By Sunday 
A Rough Return for Ben Johnson
When former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returned to Ford Field as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, the atmosphere was anything but welcoming. The Lions dominated the scoreboard with a 52-21 win, but it was the fans’ behavior toward Johnson that left a bitter taste.
Johnson, who played a major role in Detroit’s recent turnaround, was showered with boos and, more harshly, “F U” chants from sections of the crowd. While heckling isn’t new in the NFL, not everyone was on board with how ugly it got.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Speaks Out
Pro Bowl wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t hold back on his podcast. He felt the fans crossed a line.
“I don’t think that was right, I don’t think he deserves that just because of how much he’s done for us,” St. Brown said. “Ben being the offensive coordinator for the last two and a half, three years… he helped turn our whole offense around. We had the highest scoring offense last year, top five the last couple years. He did so much for us as a team, for the city, and for the fans.”
The Fine Line Between Booing and Disrespect
St. Brown made an important distinction: booing is part of the game, but outright hateful chants go beyond fan passion. “If you’re going to boo a guy, okay, whatever—that’s just being a fan. But booing and ‘F U’ is something completely different.”
Perspective for Lions Fans
It’s easy to forget how quickly the NFL moves. Seven months ago, many of these same fans were celebrating Johnson’s work with the Lions offense. Now, with him on the opposite sideline, some fans turned hostile.
The Lions may have walked away with a huge win, but St. Brown’s message is clear: Detroit fans should reflect on how they treat the people who helped build the team they love today.