By Sunday 
When it comes to NFL breakups, it always stings a little more when the one that got away ends up with someone in your division. That’s exactly the case for the Detroit Lions and general manager Brad Holmes, who’s still shaking his head at the unexpected turn in Ben Johnson’s coaching journey.
The Surprise Heard Around the NFC North
Speaking on The Green Light with Chris Long, Holmes didn’t hold back his initial reaction when Johnson, the Lions’ former offensive coordinator, accepted the head coaching job with — of all teams — the Chicago Bears.
“I was thinking Chicago would’ve probably been the last destination — or I was probably hoping that, probably,” Holmes said with a laugh. “But no, I really didn’t know that was happening until — actually, until he accepted the job.”
Ouch.
It’s not that Holmes is bitter — far from it. He made it clear that he’s genuinely happy for Johnson, calling him “a hell of a coach” and praising the Bears for landing someone who helped architect one of the most explosive offenses in Lions history. But still, Chicago?
A Legacy Left in Detroit
Under Johnson’s play-calling, the Lions’ offense soared. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 4,400+ yards three years in a row. Detroit’s offense ranked top-five in both yards and points from 2022–2024 — something they hadn’t achieved since the early 1950s.
That kind of impact is rare. And it’s even harder to replace.
Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell knew they had lightning in a bottle. Unfortunately, success often attracts poachers — and Detroit didn’t just lose Johnson. They also saw defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn leave for a head coaching gig with the New York Jets.
Filling Big Shoes With Familiar Faces
Now tasked with reloading his coaching staff, Campbell promoted from within and brought back a familiar face. John Morton will take over as offensive coordinator in 2025. He last held that role in the NFL back in 2017 with the Jets, but recently worked under Sean Payton in Denver and was a senior offensive assistant in Detroit in 2022.
Holmes isn’t expecting radical change, though.
“It’s going to be some new wrinkles,” Holmes said. “But in terms of the change to the looks, that really comes from Dan… whether Ben was still here or not.”
Campbell remains the offensive tone-setter, and with Morton already familiar with the system, continuity seems to be the name of the game — even with some creative evolution on the horizon.
Moving On — But Not Forgetting
So, how does Holmes really feel? Like most of us would if a talented friend took a dream job… with our rival.
“I was happy for him, man… But yeah, it’s just a little like, man, why Chicago?”
And who can blame him?
With Ben Johnson now coaching rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and looking to revitalize the Bears, this intra-division storyline just got a whole lot juicier. For Lions fans, every matchup with Chicago in 2025 just took on a whole new meaning.
Get your popcorn ready.