Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson Pushed Players to the Limit in Brutal Training Camp

Veteran safety Kevin Byard says Johnson's intense practices were the toughest of his 10-year NFL career.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:09pm

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When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as their new head coach in January 2025, veteran safety Kevin Byard was skeptical about the 38-year-old's ability to translate his success as an offensive coordinator in Detroit to leading an entire NFL team. However, Byard soon found out how wrong he was, as Johnson immediately implemented a punishing training camp regimen that Byard described as the most grueling of his decade-long career, even surpassing the demanding practices run by his former head coach Mike Vrabel.

Why it matters

Johnson's approach is rooted in the philosophy of legendary coach Vince Lombardi, who believed that the true measure of a team is how they perform when they are exhausted and hurting. By subjecting the Bears to such intense and physical practices, Johnson aims to build a team that is mentally and physically tough enough to grind out victories late in games and make deep playoff runs.

The details

Johnson promised in his introductory press conference that players should "get comfortable with being uncomfortable." This manifested in brutal live tackling drills, allowing players to go full speed, in order to simulate the grind of a full NFL season. While the players hated the practices at first, they soon realized Johnson's underlying goal was to forge a team of true competitors who could be trusted in high-pressure situations.

  • Johnson was hired as the Bears' new head coach in January 2025.
  • The intense training camp practices took place in the summer of 2025 ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

The players

Ben Johnson

The 38-year-old head coach of the Chicago Bears, known for his success as an offensive coordinator in Detroit and his demanding coaching style.

Kevin Byard

A veteran safety for the Chicago Bears who has played in the NFL for 10 seasons, including under head coach Mike Vrabel.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody is always focused on the games and their results. They never see the work that goes into practice every day. The best teams, based on history, are the ones who practice the hardest.”

— Vince Lombardi, NFL Icon

“Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

— Vince Lombardi, NFL Icon

“In his decade-long NFL career, it was the hardest one he'd ever experienced. Keep in mind, this is a man who had Mike Vrabel as his head coach for a large chunk of it. That should tell you how maniacal Johnson was.”

— Kevin Byard, Bears Safety

What’s next

The Bears will look to see which players can handle Johnson's intense training camp regimen as they prepare for the 2025 NFL season.

The takeaway

Ben Johnson's uncompromising approach to building a tough, resilient team through grueling practices is a throwback to the philosophies of coaching legends like Vince Lombardi. While it may be unpopular with players at first, Johnson's methods are aimed at forging a Bears squad that can grind out victories late in games and make deep playoff runs.