Ben Johnson’s contract details: What is the Bears HC’s salary and how many years does he have left?
Ben Johnson had a great start to his career as head coach for the Chicago Bears with an 11-6 record in the 2025 NFL season.
The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year for 2024 and he was rewarded by the Chicago Bears. Johnson took charge of a new-look Bears team and got them into the playoffs after winning the NFC North division.
Johnson was officially unveiled as the new Bears coach back in January 2025, although details of his contract were not initially made public. But we now know that Johnson has been handed a five-year deal worth $65 million, working out at $13 million per season.
“Some teams rest their starters. We don’t. We play football”
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stressed that with his team, they play their starters heading into the playoffs. Was he taking a little shot at the Eagles and other teams that rest? pic.twitter.com/pRomL3AI66
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 5, 2026
The 39-year-old is a first time head coach in the NFL but his salary will rank among the highest in the league. Sports Illustrated reports that Johnson is now the seventh-highest earner in the NFL, ahead of long-serving coaches like Nick Sirriani and Sean McDermott.
The young coach is highly rated but he joins an organization that has been starved of success for more than a decade. The Chicago Bears had not made the playoffs since 2020 and have not won a postseason game since 2010, when they made it through to the NFC Championship game. Nevertheless, Johnson assembled a team that fought hard and won close games and now they face the Packers in the Wild Card game.
During his introductory press conference earlier this year, Johnson explained why the Bears were the perfect fit for him.
“It was clear to me from the beginning that the priorities were straight,” Johnson said. “There’s only one way for us to have success here and that’s [having] the right people in place.
“We’re going to push. We’re going to challenge. And along with those high standards, there’s also going to be a high level of support as well. Everybody in this building is going to be all about helping you guys out.”
NEWS: Chicago #Bears head coach Ben Johnson says they are preparing to go to the Super Bowl.
“We’re mentally prepared to play for five more weeks. That’s our intent”
“You go out and win the first one. We’re going to go all out for this game”
Cocky 👀👀👀pic.twitter.com/ntFt3qv0Nz
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 6, 2026
He continued: “How do you become the best versions of yourselves? That’s what it’s going to be about from start to finish. When you walk in, it’s going to be crystal clear—the communication, the structure and consistency—and that will never waver.”
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