Williams’ development is obviously paramount to both Chicago’s and Johnson’s long-term success. But this team also had glaring issues up front, struggling to protect the former No. 1 overall pick for much of the 2024 season. Williams was sacked a league-most 68 times — 16 more than the next closest quarterback (Houston’s C.J. Stroud) — and was frequently forced to heroically escape the rush just to stay upright for another second or two.

The position group must be addressed by general manager Ryan Poles in the offseason, an effort in which Johnson will play an essential part.

“I think offensive line is certainly an area that we need to get better play from going forward,” Johnson said on Wednesday. “Something that Ryan and I already talked about. We will develop a plan of attack for how to get that done. But I’m looking forward to getting an excellent offensive line coach into the building to help develop the young talent we already have on the roster, and we will certainly talk about acquiring talent to bolster that unit as well. I certainly was blessed the last few years with the men that I worked with and that was something I would love to replicate here as well.”

That’s the big question for Johnson in his first year as Bears coach, in which he’ll also function as Chicago’s play-caller: Can he find the same success with a talented quarterback, but without the same rock-solid offensive line that existed in Detroit?

Johnson said Wednesday he sees the roster Poles built in Chicago as “loaded” and pointed to that as a main reason why he accepted the job. His tone fits the usual optimism that follows a new coaching hire in January, but as the Bears proved in 2024, while roster upgrades will fuel the offseason hype machine, it doesn’t always lead to wins.

It’ll be about the work ahead for the Bears. Fortunately for Chicago, Johnson comes from a franchise that provided the rest of the NFL with a blueprint on how to turn around a club in quick order.

He’ll attempt to replicate that success with another NFC North team.

“Listen, we’ll evaluate the whole roster,” Johnson said. “I have not watched all the tape, but I have a good feel from game planning against this defense, and certainly seeing the crossover tape from the offense, that I feel really confident about the current level already in the building. Going into this season I felt like this place was a sleeping giant. To be honest with you, I personally was more concerned about the Chicago Bears than I was anyone else in this division.

“Now, there’s a number of reasons why that did not unfold. That’s why I’m here, I’ll get to the bottom of that. We’ll see if we can’t get that correct and cleaned up. But I was very encouraged with what was already on the roster here, and like I said before, this division as hard as it is, really excited about competing here.”