Bears Coach Ben Johnson Wants Fans to Move On From Last Season

Johnson asks Chicago supporters to stop congratulating him on 2025 success and focus on the work ahead.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:50pm

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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is asking fans to move on from the team's surprise 11-6 season in 2025 and focus on the challenges ahead. Johnson doesn't want to hear constant congratulations from supporters, saying the slate has been wiped clean and the Bears will face increased pressure and expectations in 2026 as they look to build on last year's success.

Why it matters

The Bears were one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 NFL season, going from a 0-2 start to winning the NFC North. However, Johnson knows that past success doesn't guarantee future results, and he wants to avoid his team becoming complacent or getting distracted by external praise. Maintaining focus and hunger will be crucial as the Bears try to take the next step and reach the Super Bowl.

The details

Johnson told The Athletic's Dan Wiederer that he's tired of constantly being congratulated by fans for the Bears' 2025 success, saying 'You don't want to hear it. You don't want to hear it anymore.' He emphasized that the team has to get back to work just like they did a year ago, as the path forward will only get tougher. The Bears will no longer be able to sneak up on opponents, and they'll face a first-place schedule after winning the division.

  • The Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North in the 2025 NFL season.
  • The 2026 NFL season is set to kick off in the fall.

The players

Ben Johnson

The head coach of the Chicago Bears, who led the team to an 11-6 record and a division title in 2025 after they started the season 0-2.

Caleb Williams

The Bears' starting quarterback, who took a big leap forward under Johnson's guidance in 2025.

Dennis Allen

The Bears' defensive coordinator, who will be under pressure to improve the team's defense in 2026 after they had to rely on late-game heroics and comebacks too often the previous season.

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What they’re saying

“You go downtown or you go somewhere (else), and everyone's patting you on the back and telling you what a great job you did. You don't want to hear it. You don't want to hear it anymore, all right? It was great for the first week. But now our sights are turned.”

— Ben Johnson, Head Coach, Chicago Bears

“We have to go back to work just like we did a year ago. It doesn't get any easier. It's going to continue to get harder. They're going to feel that pressure from the coaching staff so that when we get to these games in the fall, we're going to be ready.”

— Ben Johnson, Head Coach, Chicago Bears

What’s next

The Bears will look to add more talent to their defensive line and secondary during the offseason in order to take the next step and reach the Super Bowl in 2026.

The takeaway

Ben Johnson's message to Bears fans is clear - last season's success is in the past, and the team must now focus on the challenges ahead. Maintaining focus and hunger will be crucial as the Bears try to build on their 2025 campaign and make a deep playoff run in 2026.