New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson wasted no time stirring the pot when he took the job, taking a playful jab at Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Johnson, hired in January after a successful run as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, made headlines during his introductory press conference. “I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” Johnson quipped, referencing the Lions’ success over the Packers.
When asked about it, LaFleur took the high road. “I don’t know Ben Johnson,” LaFleur said during a recent interview. “I respect him as a coach — he did a nice job in Detroit. The press conference was interesting, but I don’t have beef with him. I don’t get into that stuff.”
LaFleur added he wouldn’t be using Johnson’s comments as motivation. “I don’t have his number, so that won’t happen,” he joked.
While Johnson’s jab made for a good soundbite, the record tells a more mixed story. The Lions did sweep the Packers last season, but the series was split 1-1 the year before, and Green Bay had the edge in 2020.
With the NFC North heating up, the growing Bears-Packers rivalry just got another layer of intrigue heading into the 2025 season.
Matt LaFleur Brushes Off Ben Johnson’s Trash Talk About Packers
