LAS VEGAS—The Bears’ Ben Johnson is still getting used to his new responsibilities as a first-time head coach, and that includes halftime television interviews.
With his offense sputtering in the first half Sunday against the Raiders, Johnson came across as contentious and condescending coming out of halftime when he spoke with CBS’ Aditi Kinkhabwala on the broadcast. The Bears went on to win 25-24 on cornerback Josh Blackwell’s blocked field goal in the final minute.
At the time, though they were down 14-9 going into the third quarter and had just 90 yards of total offense.
The conversation began with Kinkhabwala trying to ask a question about the offense’s inability to cash in on defensive takeaways when Johnson interjected with, “They haven’t done anything. You’re right.”
She followed by asking what he told the team in the locker room, and Johnson said, “”That it wasn’t our brand of football, we’re capable of a lot more, so we’re hitting the reset button here at halftime and we’re going to come back and establish our identity here in the second half.”
Then it went sideways.
Kinkhabwala responded, quite reasonably, “So you need to change what you’re doing?” and Johnson replied, smiling but serious, “I don’t know. You think so? We’re going to be just fine.”
CBS play-by-play broadcaster Spero Dedes described it as, “Ben Johnson, all business. A little intimidation, menacing stare.”
The video of the exchange has gotten millions of views on social media, and Johnson has drawn criticism for being condescending, regardless of whether that was his intention.
