Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes knew it was likely the team would lose one or both of its top coordinators this offseason. What he didn’t expect? That Ben Johnson would end up in Chicago.
On a recent episode of Green Light with Chris Long, Holmes admitted he was surprised when Johnson chose to stay in the division by accepting the head coaching job with the Bears.
“I was thinking Chicago would’ve probably been the last destination — or I was probably hoping that,” Holmes said with a laugh. “I didn’t know that was happening until he actually accepted the job. We had a quick talk before he left. I was happy for him. He’s a hell of a coach, and they’ve got a good one up there. But yeah… why Chicago?”
With Johnson now leading the Bears, Detroit turned to a familiar face to keep the offensive continuity going. John Morton, a former Lions senior offensive assistant and most recently the Broncos’ pass game coordinator, was hired as the new OC. A Michigan native and Western Michigan alum, Morton’s return feels like a natural fit.
Holmes doesn’t anticipate a massive overhaul offensively. “Dan [Campbell] was already looking to evolve things, whether Ben stayed or not,” he explained. “John and Ben were both here in 2022, with Dan overseeing everything, so I don’t see wholesale changes—just natural evolution.”
Detroit won’t have to wait long to face their former OC either. The Bears and Ben Johnson will come to Ford Field in Week 2 on September 14.
Stay tuned. That Week 2 matchup just got even more personal.
Brad Holmes Was Caught Off Guard by Ben Johnson’s Move to the Bears
