Former Head Coach Openly States Ben Johnson Is The Next Sean McVay
Sean McVay burst onto the NFL scene like a lightning bolt in 2017. He’d been a successful offensive coordinator in Washington but was only 30 years old. It was hard to imagine he could be a good head coach at such a young age. The Los Angeles Rams made the playoffs his first year, reached the Super Bowl his second, and won a championship in his fifth season. Along the way, he crafted one of the most consistently effective offenses in the NFL. Since then, other teams have combed the NFL, looking for their own McVay. It appears the Chicago Bears found theirs with Ben Johnson.
Mind you, that isn’t me or some other analyst saying this. This comes directly from the mouth of former head coach Mike Martz. The Super Bowl champion is renowned as one of the best offensive minds of his era—a true genius. He first became aware of Johnson in 2018, and it didn’t take long to realize the kid was special. He made that clear to Adam Jahns of The Athletic.
“A no-ego, low-key brilliant guy that will be just an outstanding head coach,” Martz said. “I think he’s the best (play caller) I’ve seen, to be honest with you. Sean McVay is great, obviously. Sean Payton was really good when he came out. When they were young guys coming up, they were top-notch. I would put him in that category at least.”
Martz isn’t alone in this assessment.
Two other former head coaches, Mike Sherman and Adam Gase, developed relationships with Johnson during their time in Miami together. After watching his evolution, they are convinced he has that special something as an offensive mind. Not only is he a mastermind at crafting plays, but he’s endlessly adaptable.
“He has created a new wave,” Sherman said. “It’s almost like Wing T football. With all the misdirection and deception and crazy formations in the run game, it’s just different. He’s created a monster.”
Gase saw a “chameleon” at work in Detroit. “He’s always going to evolve,” he said. “He’s always going to be learning because that’s just kind of the person he is.”
It comes through in his play calling.
“He’s just really good at emphasizing something that the other team’s not good at and then adjusting as the game goes on,” Gase said. “If they’re playing it a different way, then he changes.”
Ben Johnson has the offensive pedigree.
Does he have the leadership? That is what stood out with McVay from the outset. It was obvious he had a brilliant mind for calling games. Nobody could be sure if he had the charisma and communication skills to command a locker room full of players, many of whom were older than him. He passed the test with flying colors. Many are confident Johnson will do the same. Due to his background, people consider him more of a bookish type. A nerd more interested in analytics than people. Those around him say that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Johnson is intense, vocal, and honest. He holds everybody accountable, including himself.
Martz isn’t prone to enormous praise—that just isn’t his personality. So, for him to label Ben Johnson as somebody on the same level as McVay or Sean Payton is eye-opening. The Bears have spent decades hiring coaches who seem more focused on tradition and old-school football. Mike Ditka was that way. Lovie Smith was that way. For the first time, it feels like the organization is ready to chart an unexplored path. Ben Johnson is the perfect choice to guide them.