NFL Exec Compares Bears' Ben Johnson to 'Evil Genius' as Offensive Play-Caller

The Chicago Bears cycled through four different people filling the offensive coordinator role the past two seasons (Luke Getsy, Shane Waldron, Thomas Brown and Chris Beatty) and need an excellent play-caller as much as any team in the NFL.

Fortunately for the NFC North club, it may have found one in new head coach Ben Johnson.

"Ben Johnson took total advantage of the four-down game-management approach because he's a really, really good play caller, an evil genius, really," an NFL executive said in a Thursday piece by Mike Sando of The Athletic.

"Losing him would almost be like the Rams losing Sean McVay."

The Detroit Lions did lose him after he excelled for three straight seasons as the offensive coordinator. Detroit finished in the top five in the league in points and yards in each of his three seasons as the O.C. and led the league in scoring this past season.

Johnson's ability to get the most from his offense is a major reason the Lions reached the NFC Championship Game during the 2023 campaign and finished with the conference's best record in 2024 at 15-2.

After helping turn things around in Detroit, he will be tasked with leading a Bears team that hasn't enjoyed a winning record since 2018.

The turnaround may have already started, as the Bears revamped their offensive line this offseason with the additions of Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman. That figures to give second-year quarterback Caleb Williams far more time to throw, which should help DJ Moore and Rome Odunze get open downfield.

Johnson's ability to scheme them open as an "evil genius" play caller should also help the offense take significant strides in 2025 and beyond.

And if it does, the playoffs should be the expectation in the Windy City as soon as the head coach's first season.