Matt LaFleur delivers the perfect response after Bears HC Ben Johnson takes a direct shot at the Packers ahead of 2025 season
The Chicago Bears people probably think too much about the Green Bay Packers. And when new head coach Ben Johnson took over, he made it a priority to mention the Packers. At the time, he brought up the wins he had over Matt LaFleur during his time as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator."I'm gonna be […]
The Chicago Bears people probably think too much about the Green Bay Packers. And when new head coach Ben Johnson took over, he made it a priority to mention the Packers. At the time, he brought up the wins he had over Matt LaFleur during his time as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
"I'm gonna be quite frank with you," Johnson said back in January. "I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year."
LaFleur took the high road, though, when asked about the topic on Tuesday during the NFL League Meetings. It's a demonstration that he doesn't care much about what the Bears head coach is saying or thinking.
"I'm sure he's playing to their fans a little bit," LaFleur said. "It is what it is. I'm not gonna lose too much sleep because of that."
Ben Johnson spent six seasons with the Detroit Lions, first as a lower-level assistant and then as an offensive coordinator. During his time there, the record against the Packers was 6-6. But yes, the Lions did sweep the Packers twice in the last three seasons, including last year.
As for the Chicago Bears, LaFleur won its first 11 games as a Packers head coach in the rivalry. The first loss came exactly in the last one, a Week 18 game this past season—and Jordan Love got out of the game early with an injury, making backup Malik Willis play most of the game.
Relationship wouldn't justify the shot
The weirdest part is that Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson are not close friends. You would understand Johnson's approach if it was a joke between friends—and LaFleur has a closer relationship with guys like Mike McDaniel, Sean McVay, and Kyle Shanahan.
In this case, Johnson was clearly trying to motivate Bears fans and stir the pot, knowing that the rivalry with the Packers has been a big topic of discussion in Chicago over the past few decades.
After all, it might give Matt LaFleur some extra motivation to face the Bears twice in 2025. Even if he won't admit it publicly.
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LaFleur coached Rodgers for four seasons
