Since Hester's final season with the Bears in 2013, Chicago has made the playoffs just twice and failed to win a postseason game. With Johnson at the helm and a franchise quarterback finally in place, Hester appears optimistic this could be the start of a long-overdue new era in Chicago.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said Wednesday he's feeling "pretty solid" with where he's at learning the new offense under head coach Ben Johnson, pointing to "protecting the football the past couple practices.

If Johnson does what the Bears hope he can do this season and beyond, he could become the franchise’s most beloved head coach since Mike Ditka.