Ben Johnson won't have to wait long to make his return to Detroit.
As leaks of the 2025 NFL schedule continue to roll out ahead of the unveiling of the full schedule on Wednesday night, the stage is set for Johnson to ruin the Detroit Lions' home opener.
Johnson and the Bears will reportedly greet the Lions when they return home in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. The Chicago Tribune is reporting the Lions will host the Bears in a Noon game on September 14.
Ben Johnson has an early tour through the NFC North
Given Johnson booked it from Detroit on the first day NFL rules allowed him to do so this offseason, chances are he won't have the warmest receptions when he returns as the Bears' head coach in September. Beyond that, many Lions fans were quick to mark Johnson as the scapegoat for Detroit's ousting in the playoffs last season.
Given the added storyline of Johnson being the Bears' head coach, there is some surprise that the game in Detroit is not a primetime contest for the Bears. However, the Bears will be no strangers to the national attention in 2025. After all, the Bears are opening the season by hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
Back-to-back games against NFC North rivals will be a huge test for Johnson's Bears in 2025. There is no question that the Bears have struggled against their division opponents in recent seasons. Expecting the Bears to be undefeated through the first two weeks of the season feels like an unreachable bar. However, if the Bears can be competitive in the games against the Vikings and Lions to open the season, that would be an encouraging sign.
The second game against the Lions for Johnson will be in Week 18, when the Bears host their rival at Soldier Field to end the regular season.