How Ben Johnson plans to bring accountability to Bears

During a failed and disappointing 2024 season for the Chicago Bears, players on the roster called for harder coaching and accountability from the now former coaching staff.

As they endured a 10-game losing streak, which saw head coach Matt Eberflus fired and plenty of missed opportunities to turn their season around, the word accountability was the biggest narrative surrounding the team.

On Wednesday, new head coach Ben Johnson was asked about holding players accountable and how that's going to look with him in control. As far as what accountability looks like with Johnson as head coach, he says not only will the Bears back up what they say, and be who they say they are, but if those standards are not met, there will be consequences.

"We’re going to do what we say we’re going to do and be who we say we’re going to be," Johnson said. "And if we fall short, there will be consequences for that."

One of the biggest statements in Johnson's answer about accountability was him saying that "repeat offenders" who lack discipline "will have to be made an example of."

Consequences, accountability, and standards are all three things that were missing from the Bears this past season. One of the prime examples was the loss to the Washington Commanders, which was the negative turning point for the team, when cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was seen on camera taunting the crowd before the Hail Mary pass he tipped up into the hands of Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown to give Washington the win.

There was very little reaction to the Stevenson moment, and while he was benched to begin the game the following week, the entire situation felt mishandled from all aspects. It would've been interesting to see how a coach who speaks like Johnson would've handled Stevenson in that moment and what standard the new coach will meet with the entire team ahead of the 2025 season.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: How Ben Johnson plans to bring accountability to Bears