Colin Cowherd Credits Ben Johnson’s Leadership for Turning Around Bears’ Culture
Colin Cowherd, who has long critiqued NFL teams, sees why Ben Johnson has quickly emerged as one of the league’s top coaches.
Bears fans are no strangers to Cowherd’s harsh takes, especially regarding Chicago’s franchise and their quarterbacks. Last offseason, he was particularly critical of Caleb Williams, calling him a “disastrous first date” and spreading the now-debunked idea that Williams couldn’t succeed in a structured offense.
However, after the Bears’ electrifying 2025 season, Cowherd has softened his stance. He even ranked Chicago as the No. 4 team in his 2026 NFL power rankings. Recently, on his FS1 show The Herd, he highlighted head coach Ben Johnson, noting a surprising key to Johnson’s rapid success: presence.
Referring to NBC Sports’ head coach rankings, which placed Johnson 13th after only one season, Cowherd pointed out the shared trait among top coaches: “Presence… It’s not just schemes. All those guys have a presence.”
Leadership Is More Than X’s and O’s
Cowherd is right about what separates great head coaches from the rest. While being a strong strategist or likable personality helps, true leaders inspire their players to follow them.
Many doubted whether Johnson, formerly Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, could command that respect. He was once seen as a nerdy, X’s-and-O’s type, similar to Mike McDaniel in Miami, brilliant in strategy but unable to lead. Johnson, however, has already proven himself an alpha. He sets high standards for himself and his team, and players have fully bought in. His “good, better, best” mantra and even his locker room antics—like ripping off his shirt to give Bears fans free hot dogs—demonstrate authentic leadership, not gimmicks.
Even before the Bears’ 2025 resurgence, Johnson’s presence and authority were undeniable. From the moment he entered Halas Hall, he commanded attention. In training camp, he didn’t hesitate to discipline players or throw the starting offense out of drills for not meeting his standards, yet there were no complaints—because he inspires respect.
Some Bears fans now see Johnson as a Bill Belichick-style offensive leader, hoping his presence translates into long-term success.
Leave a Reply