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Ben Johnson fires shot at Packers HC Matt LaFleur during Bears introductory presser

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•01/22/25•

NickGeddesNews

Ben Johnson
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Newly hired Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson wasted no time in taking a shot at the franchises’ No. 1 rival in the Green Bay Packers.

Johnson, addressing the media on Wednesday for the first time as Bears head coach, threw a jab in the direction of head coach Matt LaFleur, whom he’ll go head-to-head against two times each season in the NFC North.

“I know this is the toughest division in football right now,” Johnson said. “There’s three teams that made the playoffs this year. I’ve got tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and players in this league having competed against them for the last six years. Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell — you talk about two guys up for Coach of the Year awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”

Ben Johnson dives right into Bears-Packers rivalry

Johnson knows a thing or two about the division, having served on the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff under Campbell for four seasons — the last three as offensive coordinator. And as Johnson mentioned, the Lions have gotten the better of the Packers over that time. Detroit is 6-2 against Green Bay since 2021. In 2022 and ’24, the Lions swept the season series.

But the Lions-Packers rivalry is one thing. Bears-Packers is another, a rivalry which dates back to their first meeting in 1921. The Packers lead the all-time series, 108-96-6. Chicago did defeat the Packers in their most recent meeting in Week 18 this season, snapping an 11-game losing streak that went back to 2018. With Johnson at the helm, the Bears can only hope for more success against their archrivals.

Johnson was the most sought-after head coaching candidate this hiring cycle, orchestrating a top-five offense in football over the last three seasons in Detroit. The 38-year-old might be the most innovative offensive play-caller in the game and deserves credit for getting the best out of quarterback Jared Goff. The Bears need more from 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and are banking on the partnership with Johnson to be a winning one.