By default, any great NFL head coach usually has a loose screw or two. In a hyper-competitive profession where everyone is trying to find any edge at all times, an uncanny obsession with your work and with constantly pushing your coaching staff and players to grow is actually a prerequisite for success.
But Chicago Bears head coach-turned-offensive mad scientist Ben Johnson might take this obsession farther than most of his peers. To be clear, I only say "might" to hedge.
After Johnson's Bears put up an eye-opening 59 points in a Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers, this week's conversation has been about how Chicago could possibly improve moving forward. After all, at the helm of a stacked, talented offense from top to bottom, Caleb Williams
is already a way-too-early MVP candidate. And for all intents and purposes, the Bears could have already played the best and most complete offensive game any one team will have in the NFL this season. That's how dominant their offense was to start the 2026 season.
Ah, but there's the rub.
When a reporter asked Johnson about guarding against the Bears' offense getting complacent on Wednesday, Johnson cut the question off, noting that the Bears had not yet scored any points against the Minnesota Vikings, who they play this Sunday. Technically, Johnson is correct. It is Wednesday. Because they cannot time travel, they have not scored points in a Sunday game that hasn't even started.
Even still, a deadpan, straight-faced answer to a question he surely knew was coming shows that he's not going to let the Bears rest on their laurels.
Asked if after putting up 59 points, he has to guard against his players thinking they don’t have to keep improving, Ben Johnson abruptly cut off the question:
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) September 16, 2026
“We haven’t put up any points this week.”
…with the sternest look on his face, it made the whole room go silent for a…
Everything you accomplish in the NFL in one week is just that: What you accomplished in one week.
For Johnson's Bears to reach the lofty heights they want, they have to start every week with a clean slate, as if they haven't achieved a single thing of merit. As far as Johnson is concerned, Week 1 is already in the distant rearview mirror. It's this precise mentality from their leader that might make the Bears and their lethal, high-powered offense so scary and so dangerous to the rest of the NFL.
Once again, I only say "might" to hedge.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ben Johnson had ice-cold 8-word answer to address Bears' hubris over 59-point game
