Matt LaFleur Responds to Ben Johnson’s ‘Beef’ Comments
Ben Johnson, the newly appointed Chicago Bears head coach, made waves back in February when he poked fun at Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, saying he “really enjoyed” beating him twice a year during his tenure with the Detroit Lions. LaFleur, however, took months to respond to the comment, clarifying that there’s no animosity between them but also throwing in a bit of subtle shade.
Speaking on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, LaFleur remarked, “I don’t really know Ben Johnson. Do I have beef with him? I don’t know the guy. I respect him as a coach—he did a good job in Detroit. But, I found his press conference interesting. I don’t get caught up in all that stuff. There’s no beef here.”
LaFleur seemed unbothered by Johnson’s comment, particularly given the Packers’ dominance over the Bears in recent years. Green Bay has won 11 of the last 13 matchups against Chicago. However, the Lions’ record against the Packers under Johnson’s guidance (winning five out of six games) likely contributed to Johnson’s confident remarks. Still, Chicago’s struggles against Green Bay in recent seasons will likely make things more difficult for Johnson in his new role.
With both teams facing off twice a year, the rivalry will intensify in the fall, and all eyes will be on Johnson to see if he can replicate his success against LaFleur that he enjoyed in Detroit.
