Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn’t hold back Monday night, taking yet another friendly, yet pointed, jab at his former quarterback, Jared Goff. After leading his team to a 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson made it clear he knows a thing or two about pocket passers. He was asked about preparing for a quarterback who stays in the pocket versus one who runs, and Johnson, smiling, said, “Well, I’ve got a little history with that, of calling plays for someone not so mobile.” Oof.
Case Keenum’s Improbable Performance Sparks The Quip
Seriously, this Monday Night Football win was something else. Caleb Williams, the Bears’ star QB, was sidelined with a hamstring strain, meaning Johnson had to roll with Case Keenum. Keenum hadn’t seen NFL action in an unbelievable 1,009 days! That’s almost three years, man. But under Johnson’s guidance, Keenum put up 247 yards, tossed two touchdowns, and didn’t throw a single interception against a tough Eagles defense. Six rushing yards on four attempts, too, just for good measure. That’s a straight-up masterclass in coaching, getting that kind of performance out of a deep backup. And it absolutely makes Johnson’s comment about Goff hit different, like he’s showing everyone he can win with *any* quarterback.
The Persistent “Not So Mobile” Narrative
This isn’t the first time Johnson has thrown shade at Goff’s mobility. Back in 2025, he seemed to do the same while complimenting Williams, though he later claimed those comments got “skewed” and he talked to Goff about it. But the facts are the facts: Goff has 611 rushing yards across his 11-year career, with a single-season high of 108. Compare that to Williams, who’s racked up 984 yards in just two seasons plus two games this year, with a career high of 489 in his rookie year. Even Keenum, with his 457 total rushing yards over 12 years, isn’t exactly a scrambler. Johnson’s consistent teasing about Goff’s “not so mobile” play style is starting to feel less like a friendly jest and more like a statement.
Johnson dropped another gem after his Goff comment, saying, “Now, I don’t have a history with someone that’s not a number one pick though. So that was apparently a big deal.” Think about that. Johnson was the Lions OC with Goff (a No. 1 pick in 2016), then became Bears HC a year after Williams (a No. 1 pick in 2024) was drafted. Keenum? Undrafted in 2012. Johnson just showed everyone he can win, and win big, with a guy who wasn’t a top pick. In his first season as Bears head coach last year, Johnson led them to an 11-6 record, winning the NFC North. Now they’re sitting at 2-1, ready to take on the 1-2 New York Jets next week. Johnson’s building something special in Chicago, and he’s not afraid to let everyone know he can do it with any kind of QB, first overall pick or not. The Jets better be ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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