If Detroit Lions fans were still searching for another reason to resent Ben Johnson, he’s just handed them one.
After the Lions’ heartbreaking playoff loss to the Washington Commanders last season, Johnson wasted no time before accepting the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears. The move alone struck a nerve with Detroit supporters — not just because of the timing, but because it was to a division rival. Many fans already believed that Johnson’s focus during the playoff run had drifted toward his next opportunity rather than Detroit’s championship hopes.
That belief only grew stronger after comments Johnson made during his introduction at Halas Hall, followed by Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen revealing that Johnson had reached out about building his Chicago staff before the Lions’ postseason had even ended. For many in Detroit, those revelations sealed his villain status.
While the Lions’ offense actually performed well enough against Washington, it was undone by five costly turnovers that crushed their comeback chances. Among the most criticized moments from that game was a trick play gone wrong — a pass attempt by wide receiver Jameson Williams that ended in a momentum-killing interception while the team was down by 10.
Johnson had always been celebrated for his bold, inventive play-calling in Detroit, but some fans felt his tendency to overthink at critical moments sometimes hurt more than it helped. That playoff blunder became the poster child for that critique.
Now, as Johnson prepares his Bears to face the Commanders in Week 6, that game has naturally resurfaced in conversation. Speaking to the media this week, Johnson reflected on what went wrong.
“When I look back at that game, we had a lot of turnovers,” Johnson admitted. “Their offense was rolling, and I felt a little pressure to keep up — to match them score for score. Maybe I got a little too aggressive with the play calls and drifted away from our original plan.”
He concluded with a bit of hindsight:
“At the end of the day, if we protect the football, maybe that game ends differently.”
For Lions fans still nursing playoff scars and feeling betrayed by his exit, Johnson’s latest comments only reopen old wounds. No matter how many wins Detroit racks up, it seems their grudge against their former offensive coordinator-turned-Bears head coach won’t fade anytime soon.
