# 'Good, Better, Best' is back in Chicago

> Ben Johnson's locker room cheer returns after the Bears hang 59 on Carolina in the opener.
- Title: 'Good, Better, Best' is back in Chicago · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Ben Johnson's locker room cheer returns after the Bears hang 59 on Carolina in the opener. A 59-37 win got the cheer back, but Johnson framed it as a…
- Keywords: bears, nfl, ben johnson, locker room, week 1, news, local, 'Good, Better, Best', back, Chicago
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/09/13/bears-coach-ben-johnson-brings-back-good-better-best-for-2026
- Published: 2026-09-13T23:46:51.876+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: bears, nfl, ben johnson, locker room, week 1, news, local
## The cheer returns
Ben Johnson led the Bears in 'Good, Better, Best' in the visiting locker room at Bank of America Stadium. The chant only comes out after a win.

> “Good, Better, Best” is back.
## Fifty-nine points in Charlotte
Chicago beat the Panthers 59-37 on Sunday to open the season, an offensive outburst against a defense that was solid a year ago.
## Just get on the plane with it
Johnson told the team his message before the game was simple: find a way to leave Charlotte with a win, however it looked.

> I said we need to find a way to get on the plane with a victory.
## Not pretty for 60 minutes
Johnson refused to sell the win as clean. He described a slow start, a stretch of weathering Carolina, then a team that settled in late.

> I know it was not pretty for 60 minutes.
## Weathered, then found footing
His three-beat account of the game: survive the opening storm, find footing in the middle, find a way at the end.

> We weathered the storm initially, we found our footing and we found our way at the end.
## It gets harder
Johnson cut the celebration with a warning about the schedule ahead, and told the room they already knew it.

> It's only gonna get harder from here.
## Three game balls
Safety Dillon Thieneman, the offensive line and running back D'Andre Swift got the game balls. Guard Jonah Jackson took the ball for the linemen.
## Shout out to the play-caller
Johnson, who calls the plays himself, worked in a line praising the play-caller while handing out the honors.

> Shout out to the play-caller.
## Swift earns his money
Two days after a three-year, $33.75 million extension, Swift became the first Bears player since 2016 with 100-plus rushing yards and three scores in a game.
## The dramatic pause
Johnson held the huddle in silence before the chant. One player broke and yelled 'I need it!' before the coach finally shouted the words.

> I need it!
## The defense has work
Scoring 59 papered over the other side of the ball. Carolina's 37 points is the number that decides whether this start means anything.
## Key takeaway

A 59-37 win got the cheer back, but Johnson framed it as a starting point, not a peak.