Multiple players on the Chicago Bears roster met with the media on Tuesday following the start of the Bears’ voluntary offseason program. The team got to meet with head coach Ben Johnson and his coaching staff for the very first time this year.
It looks like the Bears head coach is already winning over multiple players in the locker room. Starting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds revealed to the media that Johnson gave a fiery message to the Bears roster at the start of OTAs. Johnson’s message to the team was simple, but effective.
Edmunds told the media that Johnson’s message to the team was that “it is time to win now” and that he had control of the locker room, citing that it is rare for that from a “first-time head coach.”
Tremaine Edmunds is up & says the team met with Ben Johnson for the first time & his message was the time is to win now & how he was very intense & had control of the locker room which he said is rare for a first time coach pic.twitter.com/jKVzjqboj0
— 79th & Halas Podcast (@79thAndHalas) April 8, 2025
Edmunds explained to the media that you could feel the confidence and intensity that Johnson brings to the team, and also referred to him as the “real deal”.
Tremaine Edmunds on Ben Johnson's opening remarks to the Bears: "You can feel it, the confidence level. Being a first-time head coach, being able to address the room, that’s important. You feel that as players. … I felt that. I’m like, ‘OK, this guy’s the real deal.’"
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) April 8, 2025
Another interesting part of Edmunds’ presser was when he discussed the mentality that the new head coach of the Bears brings to the table.
“He don’t just want to win, we want to win by a lot. We wanna dominate. That’s important.”
"(Ben Johnson) don't just wanna win, we wanna win by a lot. We wanna dominate. That's important."
Tremaine Edmunds on Ben Johnson's mentality. pic.twitter.com/g7vpUxVnOJ
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 8, 2025
The Bears have improved their roster on both sides of the ball this offseason, specifically in the trenches. They added players such as Joe Thuney, Grady Jarrett, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. With the NFL draft coming up, they will have more opportunities to make the roster even better for the 2025 season.
It seems that the Bears coaching staff has very high expectations for the team. Hopefully, Chicago will have a much-improved season in 2025.
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