During the NFL Scouting Combine, Ben Johnson, the newly hired head coach of the Chicago Bears, made some comments that seemed to criticize his former team, the Detroit Lions, and not all Lions players are pleased with his remarks.
The Lions face a significant challenge this upcoming season, particularly after major changes to their coaching staff. Most notably, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for the Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn took a job with the New York Jets. As a result, Detroit’s coaching staff will look much different from last year.
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on February 25, Johnson talked up his new quarterback, Caleb Williams, highlighting the player’s unique abilities. However, some of Johnson’s comments appeared to belittle the Lions. He praised Williams for his ability to perform “off-schedule” plays, saying that this is becoming increasingly important in the modern NFL.
Johnson then made a pointed comment: “The pass rush is coming down and to have an athlete like Caleb extend the play and potentially find an explosive down the field. That’s what gets me going a little bit. I get excited thinking about that, because I haven’t been around that since I’ve been in the league.”
The implication was clear—Johnson seemed to suggest that the Lions didn’t have that level of dynamic playmaking ability. While Williams and Lions quarterback Jared Goff differ in playing style, with Goff being a more traditional pocket passer, Goff had an impressive season last year, breaking numerous records for both the NFL and the Lions.
In addition to his praise for Williams, Johnson commented on the Lions’ defense, particularly their struggles against mobile quarterbacks who can move outside of the pocket. Despite the Lions beating the Bears in both matchups last season, Williams had remarkable performances, throwing for 590 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions, while also rushing for 73 yards on 10 attempts.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Johnson said, “It’s demoralizing when you’re on the other side and you’re watching that happen to your defense.” He emphasized the difficulty of defending against a quarterback like Williams, compared to a pocket passer like Goff.
These comments didn’t sit well with some Lions players. Defensive backs Kerby Joseph and Amik Robertson responded on social media to express their displeasure. Joseph posted a meme of Peter Griffin lurking, while Robertson shared the post with the caption, “Yah feel me…”
Johnson’s praise for Williams and his apparent digs at the Lions have likely added extra fuel to the fire for Detroit, motivating them to perform even better and contain the Bears’ new quarterback next season.
