Bears ‘are starting all over again’ — but Ben Johnson believes staff continuity gives them a leg up

CHICAGO — Ben Johnson is open to the idea that this year will be different. In fact, the Chicago Bears’ second-year coach is more than open to it.

He’s embracing it.

“This is our chance to forge our identity,” Johnson said. “A lot of coaches come up and say, ‘We’re going to be this,’ and, ‘We’re going to be that.’ And yet this is where it all happens. We’ve got a whole different group of guys than we did a year ago, and this is where it gets fun.”

That’s how Johnson kicked off the 2026 season Tuesday at Halas Hall, where veteran players reported for training camp. The road to the regular season is off and running.

Last year’s Bears built an identity as the team that never quit. They erased six fourth-quarter deficits, then did it again in a wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. They were the surprise turnaround in the NFL, going 11-6 to claim the NFC North title and winning their first playoff game in 15 years.

Johnson’s Bears reinvigorated fans in Chicago, and the hype heading into the 2026 season hasn’t been this high in years.

The beauty of sports is that every year is a new year. Typically, that notion gives Bears fans a much-needed boost of hope this time of year. This year feels different, though. Even after the playoff loss in January, the hope never faded.

The Bears, as Johnson noted, have many new faces, but much of the starting lineup will look the same. That’s especially true on offense, where the only major changes were DJ Moore’s exit and a new center in Garrett Bradbury.

That doesn’t mean this year’s team will be last year’s team. Somebody will have to step up to replace team leaders such as Moore and safety Kevin Byard III. That’s no easy task.

What this year’s team becomes will be built over the next six weeks of training camp. And Johnson has supreme confidence in his coaching staff and players to build a team Chicago can rally behind again.

The continuity on the coaching staff, starting at the top, is perhaps the biggest reason for optimism Bears fans have had in years.

“Fortunately here, we were able to have a lot of the same faces come back,” Johnson said. “With that, I really expect another layer of sophistication to occur within this building and within our players.”

Across the NFL, more than 30 new play callers are leading offensive and defensive staffs. There are 21 new offensive coordinators — including in Chicago, where Press Taylor has taken over for Declan Doyle.

But as long as Johnson remains in place as head coach, the Bears will have their lead play caller and the mastermind behind their offense.

Other than Doyle’s exit — he left for a chance to call plays as the Baltimore Ravens coordinator — Johnson’s staff is largely the same. Coordinator Dennis Allen returns to call the defense.

“There were things a year ago that we are trying to speak the same language,” Johnson said. “Now we are past that, and everyone is kind of reading each other’s thoughts. The elementary is a thing of the past, and we can level things up as a coaching staff as well. It’s a really exciting time to be here.”

That’s particularly pertinent to the quarterback. Caleb Williams spent last year learning how to think like Johnson, how to run the offense the way Johnson wanted it run. It wasn’t always pretty during training camp. It didn’t really start to click until several games into the season.

Johnson believes the third-year quarterback no longer will be bogged down by the cadence, motions and all the things that happen before the snap. Where Williams can make the most growth in his second season within Johnson’s offense is after the snap, namely his coverage recognition and anticipation.

“I think we’ll see development in all those other areas, the technical areas, understanding the offense, defense,” general manager Ryan Poles said. “Ben has done a great job with him, and I expect him to continue to develop.”

With nearly the entire offense back from last year, the expectation is this offense will hit the ground running. Already, Johnson felt that in the spring. But he’s the type of coach who’s always looking for the next innovation, the next creative way to get the ball in the hands of playmakers.

The Bears will hit the practice field for the first time Wednesday morning. Fans will be allowed to watch practice beginning Friday. As always, they’ll be watching closely.

But they shouldn’t expect to see the 2025 Bears.

“You talk about sustaining success,” Johnson said. “Well, shoot, we are starting all over again. That’s been the consistent message.”