Bears' 5-2 Start Tied to Head Coach's Pre-Teen Play Designs
Chicago's explosive offense relies on Ben Johnson's history of sketching complex schemes in elementary school, a habit that GM Ryan Poles says makes him a nightmare to defend.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
The Chicago Bears have started the 2026 season with a 5-2 record, driven by an offense that opponents describe as difficult to predict. This success is rooted in the unconventional play designs of head coach Ben Johnson, whose approach to schematic creativity began when he was a fifth-grader in Asheville, North Carolina. Johnson’s ability to identify voids in defensive coverage has made the Bears one of the most explosive units in the NFL this year.
In the pre-game meeting before a September 29 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, backup quarterback Case Keenum questioned a specific play call. Keenum, who started in place of the injured Caleb Williams, noted that Johnson was confident in the design despite his own reservations. Johnson called the play with 5:55 left in the third quarter and a fresh set of downs at Philadelphia's 41-yard line. The design allowed receiver Kalif Raymond to adjust his route in real time based on coverage. Raymond found a wide-open lane over the middle and scored a 41-yard touchdown, capping a 27-7 rout. Raymond credited Johnson for designing plays based on defensive gaps rather than fixed concepts, forcing opponents to adjust in-game.
Johnson’s inclination toward complex schematics dates back to his childhood, according to his mother Gail Johnson. She found pencil sketches in the family bedroom labeled with positions and route arrows. Ben, then in fifth grade, explained that the drawings were football plays. Gail began saving the diagrams, including one labeled 'Right Rip 138 backside skinny post.' Ben’s father Don Johnson, a former high school coach, noted that Ben asked deep questions about game mechanics at ages 10 and 11. Don recalled that Ben wanted to impress him with drawings that included misdirections and angled routes, some of which depicted 60-yard touchdowns. Ben treated these exercises with the same seriousness as his academics, leading to a state championship at A.C. Reynolds High School and a top-five academic ranking in his class.
General Manager Ryan Poles identified Johnson as a top candidate for the Bears' head coaching job after facing the Lions in late December 2024. Poles watched Johnson’s offense outscore Chicago, which was trailing by 20 points in the third quarter. A key moment involved a trick play called 'Stumblebum,' where quarterback Jared Goff faked a stumble while running back Jahmyr Gibbs dove to the ground. The misdirection allowed tight end Sam LaPorta to catch a 21-yard touchdown pass. Poles said that only two coaches, Johnson and Kyle Shanahan, made him feel helpless as a defender because of their ability to create open space.
The Bears' current offense continues to reflect this philosophy. Quarterback Caleb Williams said the coaching staff designs plays that account for player strengths, ensuring that every installation, whether a short run or a long pass, has the potential for explosive results. Antwaan Randle El, now the Bears' receivers coach and assistant head coach, said the team attempts unconventional plays if they appear viable. Johnson’s background as a pre-teen designer has translated into a professional scheme that prioritizes real-time adaptation and creative problem solving on the field.
