Full Speed Ahead: Coach Ben Johnson Commits to Playing Starters in Preseason Clash Against Bills
The winds of change in Chicago are no longer whispers—they’re declarations. When new Bears head coach Ben Johnson announced that the team’s starters would take the field in Sunday’s preseason showdown against the Buffalo Bills, it didn’t just serve as an update on playing time. It was a philosophical statement, a strategic move, and a glimpse into the blueprint Johnson is designing for a franchise intent on rewriting its identity.
In a league increasingly cautious about preseason action, where teams often bubble-wrap their most valuable players until Week 1, Johnson’s decision stands out. It bucks trends. It sets tone. It tells fans and players alike that this Bears team isn’t tiptoeing into a new era—it’s charging into it at full speed. For a franchise that has cycled through rebuilds, false starts, and fleeting flashes of momentum, Sunday won’t just be a warm-up. It will be the first real test of what this team can become, and Johnson is making sure his most important pieces are on the field to set the tone.
This will be the first time fans see the 2025 Bears take the field under their new head coach, and Johnson doesn’t want it to be symbolic. He wants execution. He wants timing. He wants the rhythm of a starting offense operating under live pressure, even if the final score doesn’t count in the standings. That includes the debut of quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in this year’s draft, whose arrival has electrified a fanbase starving for stability and excellence at the position. In one of the NFL’s most demanding markets, the pressure on a No. 1 pick is relentless—but Williams has shown nothing but composure since arriving in Chicago, and now he’ll get his first chance to translate camp reps into live action against another NFL defense.
This isn’t just a ceremonial outing for Williams. It’s the first chapter of his on-field NFL story. With Johnson’s offense tailored to highlight his strengths—quick decision-making, escapability, deep-ball accuracy—Sunday will serve as an early gauge of how well the team’s offseason efforts to build around him are translating into real-world results. Williams will be working behind a revamped offensive line, featuring both veterans and recent additions tasked with keeping him upright and giving him time to operate. He’ll have an arsenal of weapons, including new wide receiver Tee Higgins and returning standout DJ Moore, forming a dynamic one-two punch that the Bears believe can match up with the best secondaries in the league.
It’s clear that Johnson isn’t just coaching for September—he’s building something that requires timing, trust, and tempo. And for that to happen, his starters need to experience real football, not just scripted practices. Even in a controlled preseason environment, live game reps matter. Players move differently. Defenses disguise coverages. Communication is tested. Mistakes carry weight. Johnson understands this, and he’s willing to put his stars into the fire now to strengthen the team’s resolve later.
On the other side of the ball, the Bears’ starting defense will also take the field, and there’s no shortage of intrigue there either. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is crafting a system that blends aggression with discipline, and Sunday’s outing will be the first chance to see how this scheme manifests against an offense not wearing the same colors. Chicago’s defensive unit, still searching for consistent identity last season, has added new pieces at key positions. First-round pick Dallas Turner is expected to line up at edge, giving fans their first look at how explosive he can be in a live NFL setting. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will once again quarterback the defense, and a rebuilt secondary hopes to improve on last year’s underwhelming production in turnovers and pass breakups.
Buffalo won’t be trotting out its entire starting offense for long, if at all, but the challenge remains substantial. Even against the second-string units, the Bills operate with structure, depth, and discipline—an ideal litmus test for Chicago’s starters and backups alike. For Johnson and his staff, the goal isn’t a win on the scoreboard; it’s clarity on film. They want to see alignment. Hustle. Communication. They want to see if the rookies are processing quickly and if the veterans are bringing younger players along. In other words, they want evidence that the culture is taking root.
The preseason, especially Game 1, typically tells us little about the full trajectory of a team. But in Chicago’s case, the first preseason game of 2025 feels different. The team has spent years searching for a spark—cycling through regimes, systems, quarterbacks, and coordinators in pursuit of long-term success. Johnson’s arrival wasn’t sold as a magic wand, but it was understood to be a pivot. A new vision. And vision must meet action. For that, the starters must play.
This is also a moment to build chemistry. Football is a game of precision and repetition. Even the most talented roster can underperform if timing is off, or if communication breaks down under duress. For Caleb Williams to build real chemistry with his receivers, he needs more than red-zone drills and 7-on-7 scrimmages. He needs to feel the pocket collapse. He needs to read coverage after the snap. He needs to throw into tight windows against defenders with something to prove. And he needs to do it all while orchestrating an NFL huddle in front of 60,000 fans and millions watching.
There’s also an edge of competition that can’t be ignored. Johnson is not simply anointed as the long-term answer. He must prove, through process and results, that his vision can translate into winning football. That begins now. He has brought with him a culture of accountability from Detroit, where he helped transform the Lions from a basement-dwelling franchise into a playoff threat. That kind of transformation doesn’t happen without urgency. It doesn’t happen with complacency. It happens when every rep counts, even in August. That’s why the starters are playing.
The message Johnson is sending to the roster is unmissable. There are no free rides. Every job must be earned. Every role is under review. That means veterans must stay sharp. It means rookies have to climb quickly. And it means players on the bubble will get their chance to shine—but only if they’re keeping pace with the speed of the first team. Competition is no longer contained to camp. It’s going live.
For the Bears’ faithful, Sunday’s game also marks the unofficial return of football season. The fans have endured years of frustration and glimpses of false hope. But this time, there’s a different energy. It’s not just because of Caleb Williams. It’s because the Bears are finally leaning into a modern approach—one rooted in smart offensive design, aggressive defensive philosophy, and a coach who doesn’t coach scared. Johnson may be new to his head role, but he carries himself like a man with a plan—and he isn’t asking for a honeymoon.
The importance of Sunday’s game, therefore, goes well beyond first downs and final scores. It’s a foundational moment. A statement of purpose. A look behind the curtain at what the 2025 Bears are trying to build. Mistakes will happen. Rust will show. But the willingness to face that discomfort now, under real game conditions, is what separates teams preparing to contend from those merely hoping to improve.
So when the starters line up on Sunday and the whistle blows, fans shouldn’t see it as just another preseason series. They should see it for what it is—a turning point. A young quarterback beginning his journey. A new coach putting his identity into action. A roster learning how to play together, fight together, and win together.
Ben Johnson has made his call. The Bears are playing their starters. They’re not hiding. They’re not hesitating. They’re stepping into the fire early, because that’s what real change demands. The season hasn’t started, but the standard has.
And that, in itself, is a win.
