The Chicago Bears just won their first divisional title in seven years and are heading back to the playoffs after four straight seasons with double-digit losses. But head coach Ben Johnson isn’t letting his team celebrate too much. He wants to make sure his players don’t get too comfortable after reaching this major milestone.
Johnson has changed how people view the franchise in just his first year as head coach, but he’s not giving himself or his players any credit yet. According to ClutchPoints, Johnson wants his team to enter the playoffs hungry and confident. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland shared the message that the NFL Coach of the Year candidate delivered to the Bears before Saturday night’s NFC Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers.
“(Ben Johnson) said if you’re not prepared to play the next five weeks, you’re thinking about anything else, you’re thinking about booking flights for vacation, don’t come in,” Loveland revealed. “He made it very clear about what’s at stake and what this team is looking for.”
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Johnson’s bold approach is turning heads
Johnson’s talk about five weeks has upset some media people, including former NFL head coach Eric Mangini. It’s unusual to look that far ahead in the playoffs. Chicago knows the Packers will be a tough opponent, but the team isn’t scared to talk about their bigger goals.
Some fans might see this as overconfidence, especially if the Bears lose at Soldier Field this weekend. However, how the legendary coach handled his former team’s comeback shows that emotional investment drives success in crucial moments.
The Bears spent far too many years trapped in a cycle of poor management, bad decisions, and constant losing. Now, for the first time in a long while, they actually look like a legitimate contender, and Johnson is determined to make sure it doesn’t slip away.
Chicago’s optimism isn’t built on empty hype, either. The offense is loaded with young, high-upside talent. Caleb Williams gives the Bears a true franchise quarterback to build around, while Rome Odunze brings polish and explosiveness on the outside. Add in the raw playmaking ability of Luther Burden III and the versatility of Colston Loveland, and suddenly this is an attack that can stress defenses in multiple ways.Chicago still needs to perform well on the field. But when facing a team like Green Bay that has dominated them for the past thirty years, extra motivation can only help. This kind of intense coaching approach has sparked debates across sports media, similar to Stephen A. Smith’s controversial take on the recent Minnesota incident. Johnson and the Bears start their five-week mission on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
Published: Jan 10, 2026 01:15 pm