Ben Johnson stood at the podium at Halas Hall, wrapping up his introductory press conference, and looked at the group of four sitting in the first row to his left.

There, tight end Cole Kmet, wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, and — most importantly — quarterback Caleb Williams sat and watched.

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” the new Bears coach told them and any other player who might be watching Wednesday. “The bar has been set higher than it’s ever been set before, and the only way for this team and for you as individual players to reach your potential is to be pushed and to be challenged.”

Johnson praised the team currently in place and the talent that Ryan Poles and the Bears have accumulated. He called the team a “sleeping giant” with who they had on their roster, and he now wants to spearhead the Bears to win.

[EXCLUSIVE: 1-on-1 interview with Ben Johnson]

To do that, Johnson believes he has to test the Bears — but also be a rock.

“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,” he said. “Everybody in this building is going to be all about helping you guys out. How do you become the best versions of yourselves?

“That’s what it’s going to be about from the start to finish.”

That, the Bears and Johnson hope, will lead to more wins come the season — and that was what he wanted to convey to his new players. He knows that, the team knows that, and now they do, too.

“When you walk in, it’ll be crystal clear the communication, the structure and the consistency, and that will never waver,” Johnson said. “Our mission starting this spring is to win and to win now. I get goosebumps right now just thinking about being the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

“I know exactly what this role and this responsibility require, and I cannot wait to get to work.”