Chicago Sun-Times columnist Scoop Jackson is facing backlash from Chicago Bears fans over a recent column that criticized head coach Ben Johnson and blamed him for last week’s 31-7 loss against the Green Bay Packers.

Bears World Calls Out Scoop Jackson for Bashing Ben Johnson After Packers Loss

Jackson argued that Johnson caused his own problems, writing that the second-year head coach “became the victim of his own self-imposed hate economy.”

Jackson also warned, “Be careful, man. Mess around here, and you can way sooner than you want to believe become a has-Ben.”

Jackson pointed to choices he said got Johnson here, among them calling out Green Bay last year, going with Tyson Bagent over Case Keenum, giving Roschon Johnson more second-half carries than D’Andre Swift, and outsmarting himself with his play-calling.

He also brought back Johnson’s preseason talk, including his stated goal of beating the 2013 Denver Broncos’ points-per-game mark and his line about wanting more than the Super Bowl goal every team brings to camp. “This is all on him,” Jackson wrote.

Jackson’s polarizing column ignited plenty of strong reactions. PFN analyst Jacob Infante was among those who fired back at Jackson.

“This is the worst article I’ve ever read from the Bears beat. And that’s saying something,” Infante wrote.

“Ben Johnson has made the Chicago Bears a relevant, competent, competitive football team. What are we doing here?” wrote Bears Nation.

Last week, the Bears turned it over five times in the loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field. Bagent went 12-of-21 for 87 yards and two interceptions, and Keenum went 11-of-19 for 108 yards and an interception.

“I’ve never read an article that’s so out of touch with the fans, and instead, writing only for a small fraternity of beat writers whose feelings were hurt this week. This is as bad as it gets,” Bears writer Bryan Perez wrote.

Jackson wrote that Johnson’s team “has played rhythmless, inconsistent and uninspired football this season.”

One Bears fan fired back, “The Bears are [4-2] after playing with 3 different QBs. Yes last week sucked but no one is turning on Ben. This article is nonsense.”

“What an embarrassing article honestly,” another Bears podcaster added.

In Week 6, Caleb Williams returned from a hamstring injury, and the Bears bounced back in a major way by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 31-23. Johnson is now 16-9 as Chicago’s head coach, playoffs included. He went 11-6 and won the NFC North in his head coaching debut in 2025.

“This article was hilarious before the game started and it’s 800x more hilarious now,” one fan wrote.

It remains to be seen whether Jackson’s warning will age poorly or if he’ll get the last laugh if Johnson’s Bears ultimately stumble.