Ben Johnson should be sweating buckets over Bears' defense originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears to the next level during the 2025-26 season, and that's something to celebrate. But, they didn't go all the way.
Sure, it would have been crazy for the Bears to make it to the Super Bowl in Johnson's first season with the team, but don't tell him that, because you know he wanted it.
So, Johnson has stepped up during the NFL offseason and is reshaping this lineup. However, there's a piece of the puzzle missing. He doesn't have a superstar edge rusher, and in a league that's become almost all about edge rushers, that's a problem.
The edge rusher is the heart of the defense. He applies pressure to the quarterback and can stop great plays before they start. Teams who have the best edge rushers usually have the best defenses, too.
Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears to the next level during the 2025-26 season, and that's something to celebrate. But, they didn't go all the way.
Sure, it would have been crazy for the Bears to make it to the Super Bowl in Johnson's first season with the team, but don't tell him that, because you know he wanted it.
So, Johnson has stepped up during the NFL offseason and is reshaping this lineup. However, there's a piece of the puzzle missing. He doesn't have a superstar edge rusher, and in a league that's become almost all about edge rushers, that's a problem.
The edge rusher is the heart of the defense. He applies pressure to the quarterback and can stop great plays before they start. Teams who have the best edge rushers usually have the best defenses, too.
20 days ago
