By Mummy Grace 
Let’s rewind for a second. Johnson didn’t just leave town, he left for Chicago. If that wasn’t painful enough, it turns out he and Williams are already bonding like long-lost brothers. At Fanatics Fest over the weekend, Williams gushed about his new head coach like he was already in a wedding speech.
“Ben Johnson’s great,” Williams said. “We have a bunch of new energy from the coaches and players… I love him. He’s awesome.”
Yes. He dropped the L-word.
Williams even said they hang out, have lunch together, and spend time in Johnson’s office like it’s a college dorm room. Meanwhile in Detroit, we’re just over here remembering how Johnson helped turn Jared Goff into one of the NFC’s most efficient quarterbacks.
It’s all sweet and heartwarming—for Bears fans.
But let’s not forget about the Motor City entirely. Former Lions pass rusher Z’Darius Smith is dropping hints he’d love a reunion. After playing part of last season in Detroit, Smith is now a free agent. He showed up at the BET Awards with Detroit rapper Kash Doll and didn’t mince words: “We both know where I want to be,” he told USA Today.
He added, “The coaching staff and the front office are great. When I’m there, I feel like a leader. Hopefully I can get back to Detroit.”
Would bringing Smith back help balance out the loss of Johnson? Not exactly. But pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson again would definitely make this defense more dangerous—and maybe take some sting out of watching Ben Johnson mold the Bears into contenders.
So while Chicago’s living in its honeymoon phase, Detroit might be quietly plotting a reunion of its own.