### **Coaching Staff**
Johnson enters his first year as a head coach in the NFL after spending the last three seasons overseeing the Lions' offensive unit. In 2024, Detroit averaged a franchise-record 409.5 yards per game and led the NFL with 32.4 points per game and 68 offensive touchdowns. Johnson spent six seasons with the Lions, starting as an offensive quality control coach in 2019 before overseeing the tight ends for two seasons. He also spent seven years with the Miami Dolphins.
Johnson hired Denver Broncos' tight end coach Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. Doyle spent two seasons with Denver after spending four years as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints.
Another former Saint joined the Bears coaching staff, as former New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen will lead the Chicago defense. Allen has coached in the NFL for 23 years. He spent six of those years as a head coach — three with the Oakland Raiders and three with the Saints — and eight as a defensive coordinator. He tallied 14 years across two different stints with the Saints, contributing to six NFC South titles and a Super Bowl XLIV victory in 2009.
### **Series History**
The Bengals have played the Bears a total of 12 times, and the series is split evenly 6-6.
### **What To Watch For**
Chicago was gashed on the ground in 2024, allowing the fifth-most rushing yards per game (132.6). Cincinnati RB [Chase Brown](https://www.bengals.com/team/players-roster/chase-brown/) posted 990 yards rushing last season and 1,350 yards from scrimmage, including five straight games of at least 100 yards from Weeks 11-16.
The Bears allowed 17 passing touchdowns last season, the fewest in the NFL. Chicago will come against a Cincinnati passing attack that led the NFL in yards (4,640) and touchdowns (43).