From Ally to Adversary: Lions-Bears Rivalry Heats Up as Johnson Fires Back

It’s going to be quite the season for the Detroit Lions, since this marks their first season in years without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Of course, the team still has Dan Campbell serving as their head coach and Brad Holmes as their general manager, so it’s comforting that these two heavyweights will still be in charge.

But, with Johnson heading up the Chicago Bears, one of the Lions’ biggest rivals, it’s going to be a thrill to see these two teams go at it. Bring it on.

Johnson has been doing plenty of interviews ahead of his first season as a head coach in the NFL, and no matter how much he wants to just focus on the Bears, he’s inevitably asked, a lot, about the Lions. What will it be like to go up against his own team? Johnson seems to be taking it with stride and even poking a bit of fun at the situation, and his latest comments send another little jab at the Lions.

Ben Johnson Talks Detroit Lions Matchups

The Lions and Bears go up against each other twice in the regular season, since they’re both in the NFC North. During an interview with Danny Parkins of the Fox Sports’ show “First Things First” on Monday, August 25, Johnson was asked to give his thoughts on the famed “Tush Push” play.

Then, Parkins asked about Johnson’s upcoming game against his the Lions and questioned whether he would bring out any special plays that he hasn’t used before just for Campbell and company.

“Maybe,” Johnson replied with a smile. That should send shivers down the spines of Lions enthusiasts.

But, smartly, Johnson was quick to try to switch the subject and went on to gush over one trick play that he’s run four or five times with the Lions that he says has brought him a lot of success. He said that he used that play against the Buffalo Bills in the preseason and scored a touchdown off of it.

Dan Campbell Doesn’t Hold Back With Ben Johnson

Campbell has also been asked about his upcoming games against the Bears. Chatting in an interview with WXYZ Sports Director Brad Galli, he said that he’ll treat his games against Johnson and Chicago the same as he would going up against any other team. But, he also said that he’s going to be “out for blood.

“I want to beat them, we want to beat them, I’m sure they want to beat us,” Campbell said. “But no, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’re out for blood.”

Campbell also said that he and Johnosn are still friends. He mentioned the two running into each other a few times in the offseason but didn’t say in what context.

It will be a grab-your-popcorn kind of game when the Lions take on the Bears this season, and it’s wild that it will happen so early in the season, in Week 2. Mark those calendars for September 14, because it’s going to be a huge game.