Bears HC Ben Johnson Reveals the NFL Trend He's Ready to Exploit
Newsweek · C · trust 43/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Chicago Bears made a somewhat surprising decision when they used their third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on tight end Sam Roush.
Roush was coming off a strong senior season at Stanford, where he hauled in 49 catches for 545 yards and two touchdowns, earning second-team All-ACC honors. He was widely viewed as one of the top tight ends in the draft class, drawing comparisons to Buffalo Bills veteran Dawson Knox.
The reason few saw him landing in Chicago is that the Bears already had a young tight end poised to break out in Colston Loveland, along with established pass-catcher Cole Kmet. That's before even factoring in the targets that figure to go to wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. On paper, that doesn't leave much volume for Roush.
But the pick aligns with the 13 personnel packages the Bears leaned on last season, having used three-tight-end sets at one of the highest rates in the NFL. Head coach Ben Johnson addressed the reasoning Monday , pointing to a trend he's noticed developing around the league.
"More teams are installing their nickel or their big nickel packages earlier on in camp, maybe Day 1, Day 2, because they're in it more often, and so for us as offensive coaches, we may want to attack the lesser-used defense if we can, and so it just gives you flexibility," he said.
In other words, defenses now practice their nickel packages so often that it's become their default look, leaving their traditional base defense rustier by comparison. Johnson wants the flexibility to occasionally deploy heavier personnel — like three tight ends — to force defenses into that less-practiced base look rather than letting them sit comfortably in nickel. Adding a versatile piece like Roush gives him exactly that option.
More news : Chiefs HC Andy Reid Gives Key Update on Xavier Worthy, Cyrus Allen
The Bears had one of the best offenses in the league last season under Johnson, ranking third in rushing yards per game (144.5), sixth in total yards per game (369.2), and ninth in points per game (25.9). Chicago moved on from wide receiver DJ Moore this offseason, trading him to Buffalo, but the Bears still have two elite receivers in Odunze and Burden — and now three tight ends who can line up all over the field.
Johnson has turned Chicago into a powerhouse built on an innovative, unpredictable offense that leans heavily on heavy personnel. It worked well last season, and there's little reason to expect much to change in 2026.
Read the original at Newsweek →
Open in TruthVane →