The Detroit Lions are now in search of a new offensive coordinator after Ben Johnson left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Johnson’s departure to a division rival has upset some fans and sparked speculation among analysts about possible tension within Dan Campbell’s coaching staff.
On a recent episode of Big D Energy, host Neal Ruhl cited a source suggesting that there might have been friction between Johnson and Campbell, to the point that Johnson may not have returned to Detroit even if he hadn’t taken the Bears’ job. However, Johnson dismissed these claims during an appearance on FS1’s Breakfast Ball. When asked about the rumors by co-host Craig Carton, Johnson firmly denied them.
“I’ve never heard of that before in my life,” Johnson said. “Dan Campbell is one of my best friends, a mentor, and someone I consider family.”
Although Johnson is adjusting to his new role with the Bears, he is still reflecting on the Lions’ painful loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round. Taking accountability for the team’s performance, Johnson admitted there were play-calls he regretted.
“I always start by questioning myself. Anytime a play doesn’t work, I analyze why it was called, when it was called, and whether those decisions were valid. I’m often overly critical of myself,” Johnson said. “There are definitely calls I’d like to have back. This season in the playoffs, just like last year, I felt there were moments where we had fundamental breakdowns.”
Johnson also highlighted Detroit’s uncharacteristic lack of discipline and execution during the playoff game. Mistakes such as dropped passes, untimely penalties, and turnovers—rare issues during the regular season—proved costly under the postseason spotlight.
“Against Washington, we had five drops, a couple of false starts, and five turnovers,” Johnson explained. “That’s not winning football. We didn’t earn the victory, but Washington did. In this league, especially in the playoffs, you get what you deserve. There’s no margin for error because every team is good, and we learned that the hard way.”
