Normally, the NFL offseason is a time to get away, refresh the mind, and possibly take some time off from football. Ben Johnson didn't get that memo.
The Chicago Bears Head Coach apparently has such a passion for football that it may have pushed things a bit over the edge, bordering on insanity. Bears rookie tight end Sam Roush noticed it one day when the coach walked into the weight room and looked visibly different.
Sam Roush caught Ben Johnson sleeping in his office at Halas Hall and the story is hilarious:
— Bearsszn (@bearszn) August 9, 2026
“I was here over the summer. I was lifting at 8 a.m. and Ben walks in and he’s got bed head. I look at him and I was like, ‘You slept in the facility last night, didn’t you?’ And he… pic.twitter.com/ClnZ6mWewW
If indeed the coach was sleeping at the facility, then the dedication to winning and excellence can't be ignored, and the Bears have found the right man for the job. His record in 2025 didn't hurt that notion either. Chicago won the division for the first time since 2018 and won a playoff game for the first time since 2010.
However, this isn't the first time this has happened, and this type of dedication, while certainly respected and revered, is not solely based on Ben Johnson.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson isn't the first coach to be caught sleeping in the office, and he certainly won't be the last
Throughout his tenure as head coach of the then Washington Redskins, Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs was known, according to defensive end Charles Mann, for sleeping on a cot at the team's facility to ensure his players had the best possible game plan for that week.
Additionally, in the America's Game 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers documentary, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp highlights how former Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden was so dedicated to football that he would arrive at the office early in the morning, and all the lights were off, and the only source of light was the computer screen and the film.
It's also not limited to just coaches. Players have done the same thing. Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King is the latest example of this odd trend. The Hall of Fame Game hero was known for sleeping in the locker room during training camp back when he was suiting up for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Does this action automatically equate wins for the Bears? Keep in mind that the team has not reached the big game since 2006, and the franchise's last championship came in 1985. The two coaching examples provided each have a Super Bowl ring to their name, with the former having three. Just one alone would be enough to put Johnson in a god-like place in Chicago, see Mike Ditka. However, for the NFL, this is a sign to worry.
Those fully dedicated to their craft are rewarded with impeccable results on the field. If Ben Johnson is as devoted as he is and as his players say he is, what's stopping him from reaching his goal to be the best in the business or at least win a championship for Chicago. If the league thought the 2025 season was another fluke for the Bears like it was in 2018, it would be appreciated that this team not be slept on.
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