​Last season, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson found immediate success in his first season with the team, leading them from worst to first, an 11-6 record, an NFC North title and a wild-card playoff win. But not everyone believes Johnson is one of the best coaches in the NFL.Pro Football Focus recently released their Top 10 head coach rankings heading into this season, and Johnson was not featured on the list, while Detroit’s Dan Campbell came in at No. 5 and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur came in at No. 6, at least beginning a debate for Johnson’s spot over LaFleur.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Johnson has only had one year in Chicago, he brought back a franchise that had lost their winning culture and identity, and played a key role in the development of quarterback Caleb Williams. The list suggest the Top 10 coaches going into the 2026 season, which begs the question how Johnson could not be part of the list, when he led the Bears to victories in two out of three matchups, including the playoffs, over the Green Bay Packers.1 / 19Jun 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) talks with head coach Ben Johnson during Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images(Kamil Krzaczynski, Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)This is not to ignite the debate of one of the NFL’s best rivalries between the Bears and Packers, which lit up around the league last season through their three matchups, but more so to give credit where it is due. Chicago won their first NFC North title since 2018, won their first home playoff game since 2011, which was also the last time they had won a playoff game.All the credit goes to Johnson and his complete rebuild of the Bears offense, which saw quarterback Caleb Williams set a franchise record for most passing yards in a single season, saw him decrease his sacks taken from 68 as a rookie to just 24 last year, and gave the team real hope for a high-powered offense. Johnson brought in plenty of veteran coaches to help him establish all sides of the football in his first year as a head coach in the NFL, and despite injuries and other factors, got the team to a very impressive winning season.Putting Johnson on the list doesn’t mean that he’s already among the elite of the elite head coaches in the league, but it means he’s being rightfully rewarded for the job he did in his first year in the spotlight. The Bears have been a staple in NFL history, but for over the last two decades, winning has not been part of their culture, until Johnson arrived, and that should elevate his place in the rankings among his peers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJohnson is not perfect, no coach in the NFL is, but neither are any pre-season rankings list whether it concerns players or head coaches. All the other names on the list make sense to be where they are, but LaFleur getting his spot and Johnson not finding his way into the Top 10 is certainly worth bringing up for de