Overview
- Johnson is one of five AP Coach of the Year finalists with Liam Coen, Mike Macdonald, Kyle Shanahan and Mike Vrabel, with winners to be announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 5.
- The first-year coach led Chicago from 5-12 to 11-6, an NFC North title and the franchise’s first playoff win in 15 years before a 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams in the Divisional Round.
- Under Johnson, the offense jumped into the league’s top tier as Caleb Williams set the team’s single-season passing record and the Bears stacked late comebacks, while the defense led the NFL in takeaways.
- GM Ryan Poles praised the leap and emphasized avoiding complacency, describing targeted tweaks to elevate the roster, particularly to bolster a takeaway-heavy but inconsistent defense.
- Johnson said the team is back to “square one” entering the offseason, with assistants drawing outside interest and roster decisions ahead as Chicago works to sustain its 2025 momentum.