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Amon-Ra St. Brown Frustrated Over Ben Johnson’s Move to Division Rival Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown expressed mixed feelings about Ben Johnson’s decision to leave the Lions and become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Johnson, who was instrumental in Detroit’s recent rise, spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator, helping turn the team into a competitive force. While St. Brown acknowledged Johnson’s talent and hard work, he couldn’t hide his frustration at losing such a key figure to a division rival.
In a lighthearted exchange, St. Brown jokingly labeled Johnson a “traitor” and shared details of their recent conversation. The two traded playful barbs about their upcoming matchups, with St. Brown telling Johnson, “For two times a year Ben, we’re gonna f*** you up,” to which Johnson replied, “Imma f*** you up.” These exchanges reflect the intensified rivalry that Johnson’s move has created between the Lions and Bears.
The Lions and Bears meet twice each season as NFC North rivals, and Detroit has had the upper hand in recent years. However, Johnson’s move to Chicago introduces a new layer of competition. St. Brown hinted at using his familiarity with Johnson’s coaching tendencies to aid whoever steps into the offensive coordinator role for the Lions, further raising the stakes in this divisional battle.
St. Brown recalled his last in-person discussion with Johnson, which took place after the Lions’ playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. During their conversation, Johnson mentioned he was speaking with three NFL teams about head coaching roles but hadn’t decided on his future at the time. St. Brown praised Johnson for being one of the hardest-working and smartest coaches he had worked with, though he admitted he wished Johnson had stayed in Detroit.
At his introductory press conference with the Bears, Johnson acknowledged the competitive nature of the NFC North, even taking a jab at Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur. His comments, combined with his ties to Detroit, are sure to add even more tension to the Lions-Bears matchups in the coming seasons.
As Detroit looks to fill the gap left by Johnson’s departure, and the Bears work to rebuild under his leadership, all eyes will be on how this coaching shift impacts the dynamic in the NFC North. For St. Brown and the Lions, their twice-yearly clashes with the Bears are set to be more personal than ever.