Ben Johnson could help DJ Moore tap into a whole new dimension of his game.
DJ Moore has worked with numerous offensive coordinators over the course of his career. As he enters his eighth NFL season, he’ll be adjusting to yet another play caller — this time, head coach Ben Johnson.
While Johnson’s offensive expertise brings a lot of promise for what he could bring to Moore’s game, the experienced receiver is still in the process of understanding the role the rookie head coach envisions for him.
That’s why, in his eighth year, Moore is fully focused on mastering the intricacies of Ben Johnson’s offensive system.
“At the moment, I don’t have any personal goals because I’m still learning the playbook,” Moore explained. “I’m not even sure how often I’ll be getting the ball compared to previous years or if I’ll be used in the same role.”
That uncertainty actually reflects a positive situation for a wide receiver, especially when the offense is loaded with talent—and the 2025 Bears have no shortage of weapons to support rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Chicago used its top two draft selections on tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III. Rome Odunze is entering his second season, and Cole Kmet is looking to rebound after a subpar 2024 campaign—something that could also be true for D’Andre Swift.
Moore has been the team’s most targeted receiver over the past two years, and while that could still hold true in his first season under Ben Johnson, the margin may not be as large. In 2023, Moore had 136 targets, with Cole Kmet next in line at 90. Last season, Moore finished with 140 targets, while Keenan Allen followed with 121.
DJ Moore’s role in Chicago’s offense is expected to evolve
Given the array of offensive talent on the roster, the ball will likely be distributed more evenly. That’s part of why Moore is curious about how Johnson plans to feature him.
During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Moore has taken some snaps in the slot—something that wasn’t a big part of his role last season. But Johnson said Tuesday that players are still being “moved around,” and once training camp begins, they’ll begin “zeroing in and helping them master specific routes and their route tree.” At this stage, Johnson described the lineup as a “free-for-all.”
Like many others—including Moore—exactly how he’ll be deployed remains a mystery for now, which adds to the anticipation of what’s to come.
“I don’t know—you’ll have to wait until the season starts to find out,” Moore said. “We can’t reveal too much because there’s a lot going on right now. We’re installing a lot. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
