Ben Johnson and Jared Goff (Photos via Imagn Images)
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.”
Goff catching strays on his day off smh. pic.twitter.com/Vxw0IrvY74
— Eazy (@SpeakEZsports_) February 25, 2025
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.
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“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
Ben Johnson (Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images)
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.
“Everyone Else Is Burnt”: NFL Fans Are In Shambles Over Ben Johnson’s Hilarious Hand Gesture During Introductory Press Conference As Bears’ New HC
Ben Johnson (Photo via Twitter)
Football fans had all sorts of priceless reactions to a hysterical hand gesture Ben Johnson made during his introductory press conference as the Chicago Bears’ head coach.
On Tuesday, the Bears officially announced the hiring of Ben Johnson as their new HC, replacing interim Thomas Brown. The latter finished out the season after Matt Eberflus was let go in November.
During his introductory conference on Wednesday, Johnson was asked to respond to a reporter’s question on the right. Briefly confused, Johnson put out both his hands to remind himself which way was “right.”
And fans had a plethora of hilarious responses to the video:
“Damn… number 1 scoring offense in the league this past season. If we’re cooked… everyone else is burnt,” one fan said.
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“I don’t want a football coach that knows normal things. This is a great sign,” another wrote.
“i was taught “never eat sour wheat” but fair enough,” joked a fan.
“7 win team,” said another.
“Legit it’s actually the opposite. Super sharp, highly analytical types are sometimes are like this,” wrote one fan.
“nothing in that mind but football baby,” quipped another.
The 38-year-old Ben Johnson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boston College in 2009. He landed his first NFL position in 2012, joining Joe Philbin’s staff in Miami as a Dolphins’ offensive assistant.
Johnson stayed with Miami until the 2018 season before leaving for the Detroit Lions in 2019. He moved up to the offensive coordinator position in 2022, Dan Campbell’s second season on the job.
Detroit finished with a top-five scoring offense each year under Johnson as the OC, including a league-best 33.2 points per game during the 2024 season. He helped Jared Goff revive his career and watched the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs emerge as superstars.
Bears Hope That Ben Johnson Is The Solution
Caleb Williams had a rock-solid rookie season despite being held back by awful coaching in Chicago. The Bears have enough pieces to be a playoff contender in 2025, and it’s just about finding the right coaching staff to put all the talent together.
Johnson’s performance in Detroit shows he is more than ready for his first NFL head coaching position. Now, we wait and see if he can help unlock the potential of this long-struggling team once and for all.
