In his first year as the Chicago Bears‘ head coach, Ben Johnson has completely changed the franchise’s fortunes. The Bears have gone from being a laughingstock of the NFL to a de facto Super Bowl contender that is set to square off against the Los Angeles Rams for a shot to book a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
In the wake of Johnson’s success with Chicago, teams across the league are looking for the next up-and-coming coaches who could eventually become great head coaches. If you ask Johnson, he thinks that the Washington Commanders may have one of those guys at their disposal in David Blough, who was recently tabbed as their new offensive coordinator.
Ben Johnson Offers High Praise for David Blough
“He’s one of those young guys who will get a head job before you know it.”
Johnson put himself on the radar of the rest of the NFL for his work with the Detroit Lions as their offensive coordinator. During his time working on Dan Campbell’s staff, Johnson helped make the Lions one of the most ruthlessly efficient offenses in the league, and that ended up earning him his current job as Chicago’s head coach.
In his first season in charge of the Bears, Johnson has had a similar impact on his new team. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has shown remarkable growth under Johnson’s lead after struggling during his rookie season, thanks to a shaky infrastructure led by former head coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired midway through the 2024 season.
During his time with the Lions, Johnson crossed paths with Blough, who recently earned the Commanders’ offensive coordinator gig. When asked about Blough, Johnson had nothing but nice things to say, and he even went so far as to suggest that the former quarterback would eventually go on to become a head coach in the NFL.
“He’s got a bright future,” Johnson said of Blough. “He’s really smart. Has a natural way of connecting with everybody, coaches and players alike. I know he’s highly respected, not just from me, but also obviously that Washington staff … He will be one of those young guys that gets a head job before you know it.”
Ben Johnson, Bears Focused on Taking Down Rams
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 04: Head coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears looks on in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on January 04, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Blough’s work as a quarterback during his time in the league as a player has helped him understand what it takes to excel at every position on the field. Johnson believes that will serve him well as he looks to get Washington’s offense back on track next season after it struggled mightily in 2025.
As for Chicago, it has one goal this weekend, and that’s to beat Los Angeles. The Bears have escaped death time and again this season, and they will face their biggest challenge of the year against a talented Rams squad. Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, with the winner advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Gushes Over Commanders New Offensive Coordinator