Before he had stepped foot in Chicago as the next Bears head coach, Ben Johnson already had a sense for how passionate fans were for their sports teams.

So, when he met with Bears general manager Ryan Poles, president Kevin Warren and other members of the hiring committee, he wasn’t afraid to share his desire to be in Chicago — and the Cubs played a role in that.

“There’s several reasons why I wanted this job,” Johnson said in his introductory press conference Wednesday at Halas Hall. “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.

“These people are special.”

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

Johnson saw firsthand the passion that Chicago fans have for their teams — win or lose — packing Wrigley Field during day games and night games. That extends to the Bears, where fans flock to Soldier Field — winning season or not, late summer or sub-zero temperatures.

“This is exactly where I wanted to raise my family, my kids,” Johnson said. “I know we’re going to have so much fun living up here in Chicago.”

[Inside Ben Johnson’s path to Bears and why he felt drawn to Chicago]

The Cubs and Wrigley are no stranger to hosting the Bears, either.

Former head coach Matt Eberflus threw out a first pitch last summer, and other coaches have done that as well. Johnson’s next trip to the Friendly Confines with his family might not just be in the stands but showcasing his pitching prowess, too.