Ben Johnson had no intention of tiptoeing into his new job as Chicago Bears head coach. That isn’t how you get the attention of a locker room, especially one that has been demoralized and fractured from years of disappointment. Johnson had to set the tone early. He saw Dan Campbell do it in Detroit with his biting knee caps remark. Players will always be skeptical at first. That is fine. The goal for Johnson was to stay on message. Eventually, guys would come around. This is what Tyson Bagent admires about the new head coach.
In a moment of pure honesty, the backup quarterback admitted Johnson is doing something long overdue for this franchise. He is setting a standard that is truly at a championship level.
“He’s doing a great job of trying to create culture in a place that’s been asking for it for a while. With that comes being unwavering in what you say and how you act. And I think that has been the case so far. He hasn’t taken a step back.”
Johnson hasn’t been shy with his comments since taking over. He doesn’t just want to win. He expects to. Players who don’t match his energy and intensity towards that goal will hear about it at full volume. This coach isn’t afraid of anybody. No one on the roster is truly untouchable, and he knows it. They’d better get used to this demanding style.
Tyson Bagent is built for what Johnson is about.
The Bears quarterback is a born grinder. His father instilled his work ethic at a young age. It is hardly a surprise that he would embrace Johnson’s approach. Hard work and setting a high standard are what took him from a small school to the NFL, even starting some games as a backup. If he can do that despite not having the highest ceiling talent-wise, imagine what could happen when the elite athletes on the team follow that example. This is what Tyson Bagent is getting at. When the top guys put in the work, you win championships. That is what happened with the Bears in 1985. It almost happened in 2006. This team is good enough to get in the conversation. Johnson may have been the guy they needed to show them what sacrifices are required.
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