Detroit Lions fans are furious with Ben Johnson after the new Chicago Bears’ head coach took a shot at Jared Goff during the NFL combine on Tuesday.
After three seasons as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson was hired to fill Chicago’s HC vacancy. Detroit finished with a top-five scoring offense each year under Johnson and reached the NFC Championship Game in 2023 for the first time since the 1991 campaign.
Speaking to reporters at the combine, Johnson praised the athleticism of Bears second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. In a bizarre moment, though, Johnson threw shade at the Lions’ QB who helped him get his first HC gig.
“To have an athlete like Caleb extend the play and potentially find an explosive down the field, that’s what gets me going a little bit. I get excited thinking about that because I haven’t really been around that since I’ve been in the league. I’ve been on the other side, I’ve experienced it, and it’s demoralizing when you’re on the other side and you’re watching that happen to your defense.”
As you would expect, Lions fans weren’t happy with Johnson’s out-of-left-field jab at Goff:
“I really hope we embarrass the Bears next season,” wrote a fan.
“The way he handled his departure lacked class to start with. His comments in his HC pressers had him also taking shots at the Lions. It’s no surprise he continues. At this point, it’s not just misinterpretations. He’s got a pattern of doing this, and maybe we’re truly seeing who he really was the entire time,” wrote another.
“It will soon become very clear to everyone that Goff made Ben Johnson. SMH,” said a fan.
“I prefer a QB with accuracy and one that doesn’t take sacks,” wrote another.
“Man if only he had a nearly 2000 scrimmage yard running back that he could’ve used more so he wouldn’t have to rely on Goff dropping back 50 times a game…,” a fan remarked.
“Also, he looks super uncomfortable. Like he can’t find what classroom he’s supposed to substitute teach,” said another fan.
Despite being held back by inept coaching, Williams had a superb rookie year in Windy City that saw him throw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Despite that, Chicago ranked 28th in scoring offense under HC Matt Eberflus and interim Thomas Brown.
The Bears saw Johnson’s efficient and explosive offense twice a season for three consecutive years. We’ll see if he really is the solution to fixing this team, or if he was just a product of the Dan Campbell coaching tree.
Ben Johnson Adds Fuel To Bears-Lions Rivalry
The Bears have been irrelevant during the Lions’ rise as an NFC powerhouse under coach Campbell. With Johnson leaving for the NFC North division rival Bears, though, there’s a lot more juice to this feud now.
Throw in Johnson’s apparent shade at Goff, and all we can see is that their first meeting of 2025 can’t come soon enough.
