The Chicago Bears landed the most coveted head coaching candidate of the offseason when they hired Ben Johnson, previously the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Known for engineering one of the league’s most dynamic and inventive offenses, Johnson is expected to inject similar energy and production into Chicago’s attack.
Naturally, fans and analysts are eager to dissect how his system translates to the Bears. During their preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, many noticed that Chicago’s scheme looked strikingly familiar to Detroit’s past play designs. Even Lions players jokingly pointed out that they recognized some of their former plays on display. The resemblance didn’t hurt the Bears, though, as they steamrolled Buffalo in a 38–0 shutout.
When asked about it, Johnson admitted that the similarities weren’t accidental. He explained that he simply reused the same preseason blueprint he had leaned on for years in Detroit. Still, he hinted that Chicago hasn’t yet revealed its full arsenal.
“It’s a whole different roster, so the plan is to highlight what our guys do best,” Johnson told Kay Adams on Up & Adams. “We’ve got playmakers at every position, and the real challenge for us as coaches is making sure everyone gets touches. This preseason game plan is the same one I’ve run the last four years, so of course it looks familiar. But once the season starts, we’re going to have some fun.”
While some might assume the Bears will just mimic the Lions’ offensive style, the reality is more nuanced. For one, quarterbacks Jared Goff and rookie Caleb Williams bring very different skill sets. Chicago also boasts its own offensive weapons in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, and Cole Kmet—all of whom will be deployed in ways unique to their strengths.
Chicago’s final preseason test comes against the Kansas City Chiefs, after which Johnson and the Bears will officially debut their regular-season playbook.
