Ben Johnson Says Bears Practicing at Championship Level

Overview

• Johnson has publicly declared the Bears’ week-to-week work has reached a ‘championship level’ and said that this change is a key reason for optimism about the season.
• He contrasted this year’s routines with his public criticism after an 0-2 start in 2025, a moment that preceded the team’s nine-of-10 win run and an 11-6 finish last season.
• Johnson warned that better practice habits do not guarantee wins and that keeping that level will be harder as players’ bodies wear and small injuries create discomfort during the week.
• The team still faces roster questions in the secondary because Kyler Gordon’s status remains unresolved and the Bears added cornerback depth through trades and planned rotation of veterans and rookies.
• If the improved practice culture endures, it could raise Chicago’s ceiling in the playoffs, but sustained health and reliable cornerback play will be the practical measures that determine whether the gains convert into consistent wins.