A Reunion Charged With Emotion
When Dennis Allen walks onto Soldier Field this Sunday, the air will be heavy with memories. The man now wearing Bears navy once built his reputation in black and gold — as the architect of New Orleans’ defense and later, briefly, its head coach. But this time, Allen isn’t just visiting his old home. He’s facing it.
For Allen, this game isn’t about revenge. It’s about validation. About proving that the Chicago Bears’ resurgence on defense is no accident — that his second act in the NFL, under head coach Ben Johnson, is the product of wisdom earned through scars.
And if you ask Johnson, the rookie head coach whose offense has stunned the league, Allen isn’t just another coordinator. He’s something deeper.
“He’s been a godsend,” Johnson said Friday. “His leadership, his vision, his honesty — that’s changed the culture in our building.”
The Comeback of a Coach Once Forgotten
It’s strange to call Dennis Allen an underdog — after all, he’s been a head coach twice and a defensive mind for two decades. But after being dismissed from the Saints last winter, many believed his NFL future had faded into the background.
The Saints’ defense had regressed, the team’s offense sputtered, and patience in New Orleans ran out. Within weeks, the headlines had moved on. Allen’s name disappeared from coaching rumors, swallowed by younger, flashier candidates.
Then came a call from Ben Johnson.
The Bears’ newly minted head coach — known for his offensive innovation — wanted a veteran on the other side of the ball. Someone who had seen failure, fought through pressure, and still knew how to win.
“I didn’t need a yes-man,” Johnson said. “I needed someone who’d challenge me — and Dennis does that every single day.”
The result has been stunning. Seven weeks into the 2025 season, the Bears’ defense ranks fifth in scoring, third in takeaways, and second in red-zone efficiency. The same unit that collapsed late in games last year now thrives on composure and clarity — Allen’s trademarks.
The Mentor and the Mastermind
Inside Halas Hall, Allen’s presence is felt everywhere. His defensive meetings are part classroom, part therapy session. Players say he breaks down film like a scientist but speaks like a mentor.
“He doesn’t just teach plays,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “He teaches purpose. He’ll tell you why a mistake happens — not just that it did.”
Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson has blossomed under Allen’s guidance, transforming from a raw athlete into a disciplined technician. The same goes for Jaquan Brisker, who now calls plays with the confidence of a veteran.
“Coach Allen has this calm about him,” Brisker said. “Even when we’re down ten, he’s the one saying, ‘We’ve got this.’ And somehow, we do.”
It’s that calm — that sense of control — that Ben Johnson calls “the perfect balance.” Johnson may run one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, but he’s quick to credit his defensive counterpart.
“He gives me peace of mind,” Johnson said. “When your defense believes, your whole team believes.”
