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Bringing in a new head coach is never easy—adjusting to a new team, earning players’ trust, and setting the right tone can take time. But Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is determined to break that mold. He’s making an effort to connect with his team right from the start, and according to safety Jaquan Brisker, his approach is already making an impact.
In a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of casinobeats.com, Brisker shared his first impression of Johnson, and it was nothing short of impressive.
“I actually met him during the offseason while I was training up there,” Brisker recalled. “At first, it was tough to get ahold of him—he was constantly moving around. But by the second or third day, we finally connected. I expected a quick five-minute chat, but it turned into an hour-and-a-half, maybe two-hour conversation. We talked about football, about life—he was just so easy to talk to. You could tell he’s not just a great coach, but a great man. He fits right in. It was a really good conversation.”
That kind of connection is exactly what the Bears need. After finishing last season with a disappointing 5-12 record, the team is looking for a fresh start. Fans and players alike are hoping Johnson can be the catalyst for change.
“This is a huge year for us,” Brisker emphasized. “We’ve got a lot to prove—not just to the league, but to ourselves. We feel like the last two years should’ve been playoff seasons, and they weren’t. We need to figure out why. The key is changing our culture. We have the right people in place, but now we have to bring it all together—offense, defense, special teams, coaching staff, even the front office. If we do, we could be a dangerous team.”
Brisker believes Johnson is the right leader to guide that transformation. “Coach Ben is the guy for this job, and we’re in the right situation,” he said. “But success won’t come easy—it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
The Bears will have a chance to add more talent to their roster during the NFL Draft, where they hold the 10th overall pick from April 24 to April 26. With a new coach and a renewed sense of purpose, Chicago is hoping this season will mark the beginning of a turnaround.