Ben Johnson on new Bears linemen: ‘tough, gritty, dirty individuals’
Bears head coach Ben Johnson described the prototypical offense linemen the Bears were looking to acquire this offseason.
“We want some tough, some gritty, some dirty individuals,” the first-year head coach said. “And we feel pretty good about the guys we got.”
If that isn’t music to Bears fans ears, we don’t know what is.
Guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson were officially introduced on Wednesday at Halas Hall. This was really only an introduction for fans and media, as both players have prior history with the Bears’ braintrust.
Poles and Thuney were both with the Chiefs in 2021 when Poles was Kansas City’s executive director of player personnel and Thuney signed there as a free agent.
“I still remember it. Feels like yesterday where we were signing him in Kansas City,” Poles said. “There’s a level of maturity and leadership that is definitely going to enhance not only just the offense line room, but our entire roster.”
[READ: Lions WR strong reaction to Bears’ free agency moves]
Thuney, a four-time Super Bowl Champion, brings a winning résumé to Halas Hall.
“All that matter is winning,” Thuney told reporters. “I can really feel that here starting from ownership to management to coaches and just meeting everybody, there’s such an intent and purpose to win.”
“I want to contribute as much as I can as fast as I can.”
[Bears on the Marquee Podcast: Bears make splash in free agency]
Johnson and Jackson were together in Detroit from 2020 to 2023, with Jackson earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021.
“The guy’s a Pro Bowl caliber guard, so that’s what we’re going to get out of him,” Johnson said of Jackson.
Jackson uttered a similar sentiment in reuniting with Ben Johnson.
“It’s awesome,” Jackson said of playing for Johnson. “He was with me when I was a young pup my rookie year … What he brings to the table is awesome.”
Many analysts around the league believe that with these two acquisitions — and the reported signing of Drew Dalman — the Bears have a top offensive line unit in the league.