Bears release statements following Ben Johnson hire

Let the Ben Johnson era commence in Chicago!

The Bears officially announced the hiring of Johnson as the franchise's 19th head coach, and he'll officially be introduced in a press conference at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday.

Johnson was considered the top candidate in this coaching cycle, and he was a top contender for Chicago from the very beginning. The Bears did face some competition for Johnson from the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, but Chicago was able to land their guy.

Following the official announcement, the Bears released statements from Johnson, general manager Ryan Poles, president Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey discussing the hire.

Ryan Poles, general manager

"A proven leader with winning pedigree and a mind toward innovation, we are excited to welcome Ben and his family to Chicago as our head coach," said Poles.

"Throughout our search process, I was thoroughly impressed by Ben's character, intelligence, leadership and ability to connect. A progressive offensive mind, Ben's plan for all three phases of our team, which is centered on creating a winning and competitive environment, became evidently clear. Meeting with Ben and gaining an understanding of his process and vision, the more confident we became that Ben is the right leader for our team and that he and I will be great partners in building our team and shaping our franchise for long-term success.

"It is undeniable how passionate Ben is for serving in the role of head coach of the Chicago Bears, and we are primed, equipped and excited to welcome him and his family to Chicago and to commence our process of building a championship-caliber team, together. This is just the beginning."

Ben Johnson, head coach

"The Chicago Bears are a world-class franchise with a phenomenal history and incredible fanbase," said Johnson.

"I am thankful to George, Kevin, Ryan and the entire organization for presenting me and my family with this tremendous opportunity. Having been on the opposing sideline, I can attest to how passionate Bears fans are about this city and their team, and I am honored to be their head coach.

"My family and I are incredibly blessed and fortunate to take this next step in our journey, and I cannot wait to lead our players, our support staff and organization, while doing so at the service of Bears fans. We are looking forward to fully ingraining ourselves in the great city of Chicago, as we work to create an impact in this special community. I am excited to partner with Ryan and the entire organization as we work to create a championship-caliber program. We are ready to get to work."

Kevin Warren, president and CEO

"I am grateful for the process that Ryan led, orchestrated and executed, and I am honored to welcome Ben, as well as his wife, Jessica, and their children, Emory, Kennedy and Halle, to our Chicago Bears family," said Warren.

"It was a pleasure to get to know Ben and gain a true understanding, and sheer appreciation, for his passion, integrity and innovation. Ben is meticulous about the details, doing what is right for the betterment of the greater being, and motivated to push the limits of whatever is required to become a champion. His journey is honorable – Ben has not skipped a single step, and his new responsibility as head coach of the Chicago Bears is earned. It is a blessing to have Ben lead our team, and we look forward to his leadership and path toward greatness.

"We have been blessed with the greatest, most revered responsibility in sports – provide the best fans in the world with championship-level execution in everything that we do. Today, we take our next step in that pursuit. As we embark on the next chapter of our storied franchise, we are energized by what lies ahead."

George McCaskey, chairman

"We are elated to welcome Ben and his family to the Bears and the greatest city in the world," said McCaskey.

"Ben's leadership, poise, preparation and detail are evident. We certainly appreciate the first-class manner in which he approached this process. We are excited to see him lead our Bears."

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears release statements following Ben Johnson hire