Get used to the cheese graters.
At Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s introductory press conference in January 2025, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator said, “I wanted to stay in this division. I know this is the toughest division in football right now. There are three teams that made the playoffs this year. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this league, having competed against them for the last six years. Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, you’re talking about two guys who are up for Coach of the Year awards.”
Johnson paused and grinned, “And, to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
In Johnson’s first season as head coach, Chicago went 12-5 and won the NFC North for the first time since 2018. Johnson kept his word, as the Bears beat their rival, the Green Bay Packers, twice - once in Week 16 and once in the NFC Wild Card round - and Johnson went viral for snubbing Packers head coach Matt LaFleur’s handshake after their Wild Card matchup. In the locker room after that game, Johnson screamed, “[Expletive] the Packers!” When asked about his postgame theatrics the following Monday, Johnson said, “I don’t like that team.”
Johnson meant what he said.
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio spoke with Johnson at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, and Florio pressed Johnson on his hatred of the Packers.
“Who likes the Packers?” Johnson said, adding, “The Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other. I think it’s as simple as that. I think that’s going to make this rivalry, this game, something that people are going to watch here going forward.”
Florio asked whether Johnson “has any” relationship with LaFleur and if LaFleur has called Johnson for clarification. Johnson replied, No. No. Nope. We don’t talk.”
“Do you want it that way?” Florio asked.
“I’m good with it,” Johnson said.
Johnson also confirmed that LaFleur has not attempted to reach out to him.
LaFleur, publicly anyway, was confounded by Johnson’s disdain.
In April 2025, LaFleur told Bussin’ With The Boys, “I don’t know Ben Johnson.” When host Will Compton pressed LaFleur on whether he has “beef” with Johnson, LaFleur played coy. “Do I have beef? I don’t know Ben Johnson. I respect him as a football coach.” He added, “The press conference was interesting, but I don’t have beef with him.”
If there wasn’t beef between LaFleur and Johnson before the 2025 season, there definitely is ahead of the 2026 season.
Luckily, the Bears and Packers play twice a year every year.
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