Ben Johnson snubbed in latest Dan Campbell comparison

Johnson earned praise for turning the Bears into a playoff team, but sustaining success for multiple years is a greater challenge.

Much like Ben Johnson, Liam Coen heads into his second season with lofty expectations after making an immediate impact. The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach engineered a remarkable 13-win turnaround in his 2025 debut.

According to Reisman of Pride of Detroit, until Johnson proves he can overcome those challenges, analysts won’t be considering placing him among the league’s most elite coaches.

Meanwhile, Dan Campbell has built a stronger resume in Detroit. He took over in 2021 and transformed one of the NFL’s struggling franchises into a stable contender.

Under his leadership, the Lions won their first NFC title in decades, reached the NFC Championship, and secured the conference’s No. 1 seed in 2024.

Johnson’s influence on Detroit’s offense played a vital role in the franchise’s rise and his early success in Chicago. He has the potential to become one of the league’s top coaches, but one outstanding season is not enough to compete with Campbell’s experience.

However, on the other hand, an NFL analyst has recently predicted Johnson to win Coach of the Year.

Ben Johnson’s rise fuels concern for Lions ahead of 2026

The NFL analyst Jason La Canfora believes Ben Johnson has already exceeded expectations in his first season as the Chicago Bears’ head coach.

“There were some skeptics a year ago about whether the supposed wunderkind coach could make an immediate impact,” wrote Jason La Canfora on Casino.us. “And man did he. His work with Caleb Williams put a lot of nonsense to bed about that QB’s ability and leadership, and we suspect he takes another leap this season.”

The praise shows how quickly Johnson has reshaped the Bears’ play. He helped elevate Caleb Williams’ performance while changing the perception of the former No. 1 overall pick.

Already a Madden FC 27 cover star, if Williams continues to improve under Johnson, Detroit can find it difficult in a matchup against the Bears for the NFC North Championship.