The Detroit Lions closed out their 2025-26 season with a successful win over their ex-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears on the road with a 19-16 final score. But, now it’s Johnson who’s bragging, because the Bears beat the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday, January 10, and Chicago is advancing.
Johnson should be all smiles, but he showed off an angry streak after the win, and now, he’s getting pushback on it. “There was probably a little bit more noise coming out of their building up north to start the week, which we heard loud and clear, players and coaches alike,” Johnson said following the win. “This one meant something to us.”
The team’s quarterback Caleb Williams added, “Once we lined up, I actually knew that we were about to hit it just off the demeanor of the guys on the other side of the ball. Just had a feeling that that was going to be the one.” He continued, “Guys did a great job. O-line did a great job blocking. Guys did a great job selling the fake, and then obviously DJ going up the sideline.”
So, those comments weren’t controversial, but a different one from Johnson has been getting attention. Now, people are speaking out with their thoughts about Johnson’s comments, and some are critical.
Former Detroit Lions Coach Ben Johnson Called Out for Postgame Remarks
After the game, Johnson said, “F the Packers, f them,” and added that he hates those guys. That’s pretty harsh, especially for a team that just beat the Packers. Not classy.
He’s not apologizing, either. When asked about the comments on Monday, January 12, he said, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, “There’s a rivalry that exists between these two teams. Something that I fully recognize and am a part of…I don’t like that team. [Chairman] George [McCaskey] and I have talked and we’re on the same page.”
People Push Back on Ben Johnson Comments
Many replies to the comments were not impressed. On that’s garnered more than 20,000 impressions states, “You can act like a head coach though. The rivalry can be fierce and still respectful. In a way it is fitting though that Chicago’s savior is going to take the low road. So many of the fans identify with this.”
Another commenter said, “You can have great rivalries and still have some class. Ben Johnson obviously missed the memo on how to be classy. Good luck to the Bears the rest of the way.” One more added, “You can not like a team and still have professional respect. Ben Johnson behaves like a child.”
Of course, some Chicago Bears followers in the comments ate it up. “That’s a coach who understands the job. He knows what the rivalry means to the city, the locker room, and the fans. No apologies, no backtracking, just owning it and having ownership aligned. That’s how rivalries stay real,” one said.
So, Johnson isn’t walking back his comments. Instead, he’s doubling down on them. But, that’s just him, and to each their own. Seems like an un-classy move, but he won, and he’s the head coach, so he can do and say what he wants.
Ex-Lions Coach Ben Johnson Under Fire for Controversial Comments