CHICAGO – Ben Johnson has been coming to Cubs games for a decade, maybe more. He used to go with relative anonymity, on family trips getting lost among the masses occupying the outfield bleachers.

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He fell in love with the city during those trips, when he was younger and rising up the NFL coaching ranks. While the core memories made at Wrigley Field weren’t the main reason he took the job as Bears head coach, the city played its part.

“The first is this place — for the last 10-plus years, my family and I have been coming up for a Cubs series every summer, and it doesn’t take long to realize that this place is special,” Johnson said at his Jan. 22 introductory press conference. “These people are special.”

Johnson had a different experience in his return to Wrigley with a new job title. He was greeted with a hero’s welcome on Saturday before throwing out the first pitch. The former University of North Carolina quarterback clearly has an arm.

Johnson threw a heater. With movement.

His presence lifted the pre-game crowd that was obviously filled with crossover Bears fans. The Johnsons were there to celebrate son Kennedy’s birthday, and he got to play catch with the Cubs mascot before the game.

He spent some time with Cubs manager Craig Counsell as well, when the two exchanged pleasantries and talked some shop.

His outing was a hit on social media, as was the pitch itself. It even prompted a comparison to Shota Imanaga.