The Chicago Bears are gearing up for their offseason program on April 7, where new head coach Ben Johnson will get to meet his team for the first time at Halas Hall. But there's already been a handful of players who have met Johnson since he was hired, including safety Jaquan Brisker.
Brisker, who missed most of the 2024 season due to a concussion, shared details about his first meeting with Johnson, which happened while Brisker was working out at the team facility. And it's safe to say Johnson already left a strong impression on the fourth-year safety.
"I actually did meet him. I met him in the offseason when I was working out up there," Brisker told Casino Beats. "The first day or two it was tough to get him, because he was moving around, but the second or third day I got to meet him. And to be honest, I really thought it was going to be, like, a five-minute conversation, and it turned to, like, maybe an hour-thirty, two-hour conversation. And it was about ball, about life. He was very easy to talk to. You could tell he’s a great person, great man. He fits right in. It was a great conversation.”
While Johnson has yet to meet his team -- or serve as head coach in a game -- his leadership skills have been a standout through his various press conferences this offseason. Players who have already met Johnson, including Brisker, had nothing but praise for their new head coach, especially when it comes to the importance of building relationships.
“It’s important, especially player to coach, coach to player," Brisker said. "That’s important to have that connection, that communication. I feel like it’s super important, and that’s what you need. You need a coach you can always go to or talk to. I thought it was gonna be five to 10, just a little quick, you know, what’s up? He told me to sit down and the conversation ended up going and going. We talked about so many different things. So I’m like, yeah, that connection is there. It was easy from there.”
With the Bears set to kick off a new era under Ben Johnson, he made it clear that what happened in the past -- namely a 5-12 record and 10-game losing streak -- is done, and it's all about establishing a winning culture moving forward. And what player wouldn't love that.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Jaquan Brisker shares first impression of Bears HC Ben Johnson
