Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson reached out to former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen late in the 2024 season to inquire if the veteran coach would be willing to work with a first time NFL head coach.

The reason: he was Johnson once. Allen, the Bears ’ new defensive coordinator, was a 39-year-old first-time head coach when the Raiders started their 2012 regular season. Johnson will be 39 when the Bears play their first game with him as their head coach.

In his initial media scrum as a Bears coach, Allen described the type of defense he plans to bring to Chicago, which brings back similarities to defenses that have been well known through Bears history.