In just one year, head coach Ben Johnson has altered the course of the Chicago Bears franchise, taking them from worst to first, developing quarterback Caleb Williams and setting the team up potential long-term success. So it’s no surprise that general manager Ryan Poles trusts him immensely in every facet of this roster.
According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, Johnson is “heavily involved” in the team’s draft process, which doesn’t come as a surprise after his contributions in last year’s draft, where the Bears landed two potential cornerstones on offense in tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III, picks that had Johnson’s fingerprints all over them.
“He has set the tone in that building,” Biggs said on The Score. “They’re not going to pull the trigger on some draft pick of a player he doesn’t want. He’s heavily involved.”
Johnson exceeded expectations in his season as head coach, where he took a five-win team to the top of the NFC North, for the first time since 2018, going 11-6, beating the Green Bay Packers twice, including in a thrilling wild-card playoff win which marked the Bears’ first postseason win in nearly two decades.
That had everything to do with the decision to completely retool the interior offensive line, trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, as well as signing free-agent center Drew Dalman, as well as drafting two young playmakers in Loveland and Burden, all of which helped Williams take the next step in his development.
While the Bears need more defensive help this draft cycle, Johnson will surely have a say in how Chicago bolsters its roster heading into an important 2026 season.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC Ben Johnson will be ‘heavily involved’ in draft decisions