Ben Johnson Lions
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Ben Johnson worked in various roles for the Detroit Lions from 2019-2024.
The Chicago Bears have made several notable free agent moves so far this offseason. Among thenine new players added to the roster, one that may have flown under the radar was wide receiver and kick returner Kalif Raymond. Raymond signed aone-year, $3.5 million contract with Chicago, and Ben Johnson just revealed that he was one of their biggest free agent targets.
“I stood on the table for Kalif,”Johnson stated at the NFL Annual League Owners Meeting. “So did Randle El, so did J.T. Barrett. We know him really well. We know what he’s going to bring to the table. He’s a phenomenal teammate. It starts there. He’s going to elevate that locker room. He’s going to practice his tail off. That’s what he’s done his entire career.”
Kalif Raymond Stats
GettyWide receiver Kalif Raymond has collected 190 receptions for 2,554 yards and nine touchdowns across nine seasons in the NFL.
Johnson, receivers coach/assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El, and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett all spent three seasons with Raymond in Detroit from 2022 to 2024. While Raymond only collected1,320 receiving yards and three touchdowns across those three years with them, his versatility as a playmaker made him a valuable weapon. Raymond holds the Lions’ franchise record for punt return yards and is a two-timeAll-Pro returner. He is now set to fill the vacancy left by Devin Duvernay after hesigned with the Arizona Cardinals.
Raymond’s addition is a massive win for Chicago in part because it’s also a big loss for Detroit.
Kalif Raymond Chose the Chicago Bears Over The Detroit Lions
The Lions reportedly offered Raymond a similar deal to what he got with the Bears. However, he opted for Chicago forone specific reason.
“I wanted to play in Ben’s offense,” Raymond said,via Dan Pompei of The Athletic.
Johnson was equally excited about the idea of reuniting with Raymond.
“I have high expectations for him because I’ve been with him before and I know what he’s capable of, but he’s got to come into training camp and prove that again and again,” Johnson said about Raymond. “I’m excited about that addition.”
Johnson and Raymond’s enthusiasm for each other laid the groundwork for the Bears to be able to steal him away from their NFC North rival. Raymond only caught24 passes for 289 yards and a single touchdown in 2025. He’s looking to be a more integral piece to the offense and knows that Johnson will design plays specifically for him.
“He’s extraordinarily creative, and honestly, you can be in any spot on the offense, and he will find a way to get you the ball,” Raymond said about Johnson. “Just to be under him is a great privilege.”
Lions’ Reporter Recently Tried to Mitigate Raymond’s Departure
Greg Dortch Stats
GettyWide receiver Greg Dortch recorded 29 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 with the Arizona Cardinals.
As a subsequent move to Raymond’s departure, the Lionssigned former Arizona Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch. Detroit Lions beat reporter Andrew Hughes used this signing as a way to mitigate Raymond’s departure and criticize Chicago.
Hughesposted a piece pumping up the Lions’ free agency moves whiledeflating the Bears. In it, he stated that the Bears’ stealing Raymond “felt flat”.
“It definitely would’ve made more sense for the Bears to have poached Raymond from the Lions had Dan Campbell not found a new play caller in Drew Petzing, whom Campbell is handing off full autonomy to,” Hughes wrote. “Raymond doesn’t have any familiarity with the playbook, only offering a glimpse into Detroit’s locker room culture.”
Hughes then proceeds to boost Dortch as an upgrade to Raymond. While there is clearly some bias in the piece, it’ll remain to be seen how these additions truly play out.
Despite winning the NFC North, the Bears lost both matchups to Detroit in 2025. There is a lot of bad blood between the two franchises, and Chicago will look to set the record straight in 2026.