By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s architect celebrates his former play-caller’s promotion—while admitting he never saw Chicago coming.
Shockwaves in the North: “Man, Why Chicago?”
Brad Holmes has never been shy about praising Ben Johnson’s brilliance. After all, the offensive coordinator helped craft three straight top-five seasons in both yards and points—the Lions’ first such run since the 1950s. But when Johnson accepted the head-coaching seat in Chicago, the timing and destination caught Holmes off guard.
“I was thinking Chicago would’ve probably been the last destination— or I was probably hoping that, probably,” Holmes confessed on The Green Light with Chris Long podcast. “I really didn’t know that was happening until—actually, until he accepted the job.” Then came the kicker: “But yeah, it’s just a little like, man, why Chicago?”
That twinge of disbelief is understandable. Johnson will now look to work his magic with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams—directly opposing a Detroit team he helped turn into an offensive juggernaut.
Replacing a Record-Setter Without Hitting Reset
Losing both coordinators in the same winter is the kind of gut punch that has derailed contenders in the past. Yet Holmes insists the Lions won’t be reinventing the wheel, especially on offense. John Morton, a senior offensive assistant in Detroit two seasons ago and most recently Sean Payton’s passing-game guru in Denver, takes over play-calling duties.
“There’s going to be some new wrinkles,” Holmes acknowledged, “but I don’t see a lot of wholesale change.” The stabilizing force, he insists, is Dan Campbell, whose fingerprints have been on the offense since 2022. Morton knows the system, the terminology, and—most importantly—the personality of a locker room that expects to push for a Super Bowl.
Confidence in Continuity—and in Jared Goff
Johnson may be gone, but quarterback Jared Goff remains, fresh off three consecutive 4,400-yard seasons under his former coordinator. Holmes believes Goff’s rapport with a now-veteran receiving corps, plus a ferocious run game, should cushion the transition.
“It’s going to evolve,” Holmes said of the offense. “That’s how Dan is—just regardless.” Translation: expect tweaks, but don’t expect the Lions to abandon the aggression that made them one of the NFL’s most watchable teams.
Looking Ahead: Rivals, Respect, and Revenge Games
Holmes is genuinely “happy” for Johnson, yet he can’t hide the irony of seeing him on Chicago’s sideline twice a year. And the schedule-makers have provided an early story line: Detroit and Chicago meet in Week 3 at Soldier Field. For Holmes, Campbell, and a roster built on internal growth, it’s the first chance to measure continuity against the spark of a familiar foe.
“[Johnson] is a hell of a coach, man, and they have a really good one up there,” Holmes said—before repeating the question that will echo all season in Detroit: “But… why Chicago?”
If the Lions flourish under Morton while Johnson rebuilds the Bears, Holmes may never get an answer. He might not need one. The results, on both sides of Lake Michigan, will speak for themselves.