Well, Ben Johnson certainly wasted no time adding some of his own fuel to the Chicago Bears’ rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.
After three years as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator under Dan Campbell, Ben Johnson was hired as the Bears’ new head coach. He replaces interim Thomas Brown, who took over the fired Matt Eberflus in November.
In his introductory press conference on Wednesday, Johnson couldn’t help but take a shot at Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur:
“Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, you talk about two guys that are up for Coach of the Year awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Ben Johnson has a ton of familiarity with LaFleur. The former joined the Lions’ coaching staff under Matt Patricia in 2019, the same year LaFleur was named the new head coach of the Packers.The Lions completed season-series sweeps of LaFleur’s Packers in 2022 and here in 2024, including a stunning Week 18 victory at Lambeau Field that spoiled Green Bay’s playoff hopes. That game wound up being the last with Aaron Rodgers in a Packer uniform.
Green Bay has one victory over its last seven meetings with Detroit dating back to Week 18 of the 2021 season. That win came at Ford Field on Thanksgiving, with the Packers winning 29-22.
But Ben Johnson has his work cut out for him now in Windy City as he tries to retain his dominance over Green Bay. LaFleur is 11-1 against the Bears, with the only loss coming in Week 18 on a last-second Cairo Santos field goal.
Ben Johnson Brings New Hope To The Bears
2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams certainly didn’t disappoint in his rookie year despite being held back by awful coaching. Chicago has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball to compete, now it’s time for Johnson to put it all together.
Chicago has been in coaching purgatory since the mind-numbing decision to fire Lovie Smith after a 10-6 season in 2012. Will Johnson provide stability with Williams as his QB and bring new hope to the Bears? Stay tuned.
