Women are rising up the ranks throughout professional football, earning positions of power in a space that for too long was ruled almost exclusively by men. We're seeing more and more women breaking barriers in the sport, but what are the stories beyond the headlines? Who are the women shaping and influencing the NFL today? Answering those questions is the aim of the Next Woman Up series. While the conversational Q&As are edited and condensed for clarity, this is a forum for impactful women to share experiences in their own words. Without further ado, we introduce:
Micaeh Johnson, Chicago Bears
Position: Director of Corporate Communications
I saw you worked for the Chicago Bulls, then moved into several other spaces before returning to the sports industry. Did you always want to work in sports? And secondly, why did you decide to return to the industry after so many years away?
I was always adjacent to sports growing up, and it was something we really thrived in. It's where our family found community. I stopped playing sports in high school, but I went to college at Purdue University. It was at that point that sports became a bigger part of my life, with our school playing in the Big Ten. I began studying communications but had no clear path within it. Then I found the sports marketing department. I discovered there was a path for writing and sports.
I worked for the Bulls right after college, but I felt like working in sports just wasn't creative enough for me at that point. I wanted an opportunity to hone my writing and storytelling, so I bounced around to different sectors and made some great relationships. It allowed me to get a lot of experience in corporate communications, so when this role with the Bears opened, I stepped into it with confidence.
Now as Chicago's director of corporate communications, what does that role entail?
In communications, there are never two days that are the same, and I really see my role as the quarterback of external storytelling. We have this robust department on our owned and operated channels that tell the incredible stories of the Chicago Bears on and off the field. We also have to manage the stories externally throughout the media. We are handling a tremendous amount of inbound and outbound requests as well. Every day I come to work, I reach to learn about our partnership agreements, our community relations department and others, and ask how our group can amplify them through storytelling. It's about being curious, listening and knowing what viewpoints are important to the organization so we can amplify them.
When you look at your position as a whole, what would you say is the most challenging part of your role?
To me, a challenge is something that always re-presents itself. That is hands down showing value. In our department, it's not obvious to show value because so much of the work we do is behind the scenes. We are looking to protect our brand story while also amplifying it. We always want to tell a story the right way and the fair way that includes and reaches all of our fans. After a project is done and the story is done right, no one thinks, "Oh, the communications department did that story well." That never happens. The only time people know our department is doing anything is if we did something wrong. There's no metric telling us if we managed a player or executive well. We know our value won't always be obvious, but as long as the story is told in the right way or a project is completed, we know we did our jobs. This challenge will never not be there, because we don't lobby for credit. We do our jobs because we want to deliver the story and do it justice.
There have been a lot of changes within the organization. What is the feeling around the Chicago Bears this season?
There's so much excitement right now. We have an opportunity with this new regime. Everybody in the building feels extremely challenged, but we want to meet the moment.
Looking back on your career, why do you think you've had so much success?
It's about relationships and being kind. I travel a lot in my role, and that includes internationally. Someone in one of our agencies in Spain -- one of our global markets -- told me that I'm so American because I'm always smiling. It's because I'm actually happy to be here and working. It was very endearing to hear. On the relationships angle, when this opportunity popped up, I reached out to one of my friends. I told him that I felt like this was my job, and he asked what I needed to do to get where I wanted to go. Whether it's a micro relationship or 20-year friendship, they are all important. The same skill sets that I have in my daily life, I feel like I bring them into my career.
What are some other goals for your career?
We have so much to accomplish, and I want to be here when it happens. I want to be here for the groundbreaking of the new stadium and our first game in it. I want to be here for our next Super Bowl ring. Those are all within reach in the immediate future. As a storyteller, you want to tell those stories on the biggest platform. One of those is to see a girl from Illinois playing flag football in the 2028 Olympics.
Along those lines, what is your favorite story that you have helped tell?
Bears general manager Ryan Poles started a program here called Scout School. We bring in students from the Chicago area to learn everything about the game through the lens of a scout. The students meet with our scouts and spend the day with them. Ryan really sees the community and people within the building and on the team. For him to start a program like this, and for that story to be told on multiple platforms, is incredible.
Now, let's turn to mentorship. Do you have any mentors, and what advice have you received from them?
I've thought about this, and I can't think of only one person or one piece of advice. Because I chose a nontraditional career path, I have met so many people along the way. I have a collection of relationships and people who have supported me and pushed me.
What advice do you have for other women looking to get into a career in this space?
A few months ago, I was listening to a podcast interview with Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson. She was asked a similar question, and I thought, Women are supposed to be in this space. We might step into it and be surrounded by men, but it doesn't mean we're not supposed to be there. You might think your biggest challenge is being a woman, but it's likely also your greatest asset. It's important for so many perspectives to be involved in the decision-making process.
