It’s official: Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell saw it coming, and now one of the key pieces of his coaching staff has moved on. Ben Johnson has been named the new head coach of the Chicago Bears.
This is a significant step forward for the Bears as they aim to recover from the disappointing Matt Eberflus era and surround quarterback Caleb Williams, the former No. 1 overall pick, with top-tier coaching talent.
For the Bears, Johnson represents a major upgrade on offense — at least on paper. While he must prove that his success as an offensive coordinator can translate to being an NFL head coach, his track record suggests potential. Under Johnson, the Lions posted remarkable offensive numbers:
Second in the league in total yards per game (409.5), trailing only Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens.
Led the league in scoring with 33.2 points per game.
Ranked second in passing yards per game (263.2), just behind Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (272.9).
For Bears fans and Caleb Williams, these stats should be exciting. However, for the Lions, losing Johnson is a blow to the creativity and daring play-calling that propelled their offense.
A Tough Postseason for the Lions
The Lions have endured a rough postseason. After a shocking home loss to the Washington Commanders as the No. 1 seed, Detroit’s Super Bowl hopes have been dashed for two consecutive seasons. Now, they’ve also lost arguably their most valuable staff member.
Despite these setbacks, Campbell remains confident. He believes the loss to Washington will fuel his players’ determination.
“I know the guys, [the loss] eats away at [them],” Campbell told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard on Monday. “I know the right guys — they’re our guys for a reason, and that’s what will always give me hope and let me know we’re only going to be better.”
The Lions’ Core Keeps Their Window Open
Campbell attributes the Lions’ continued Super Bowl aspirations to their strong core of players.
“I think the most important thing is you want to know you’ve got your culture, you’ve got your identity, and you’ve got players that fit into that, and we’ve got that,” Campbell said. “We’ve got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success, and those guys are made the right way. So, absolutely, our window is open.”
While some might see this as overly optimistic after such a tough loss, Campbell is right about one thing: the Lions’ roster is stacked with talent.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, one of the NFL’s premier wideouts, is signed through 2028.
Jahmyr Gibbs, a breakout star at running back, is under contract through 2026, with a club option for 2027.
Penei Sewell, the league’s top right tackle, is locked in through 2029.
Aidan Hutchinson, the star edge rusher, is entering the final year of his rookie deal, with a club option for 2026.
Rising stars in the defensive backfield like Terrion Arnold and Brian Branch are also under long-term deals.
The Challenge Ahead
The challenge for the Lions lies in how difficult it is to win a Super Bowl. With a franchise-best 15-2 season and the No. 1 seed, this year may have been their best chance — and they fell short.
However, Campbell’s team isn’t one to back down.
Moving Forward Without Johnson
The departures of Ben Johnson and potentially defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are undoubtedly losses. Still, Campbell remains optimistic.
“We came out of the dump and got to where we’re at, so I will forever be grateful for those guys and our team will. And is it a loss? Absolutely, it’d be a loss, but yet we move forward. This train rolls on, and I’ll find the next best guys for us,” Campbell said.
The Lions’ Super Bowl window is not closed. The journey may be harder now without Johnson, but Detroit has the talent, culture, and leadership to keep competing. It’s not over yet for this team — it’s just a matter of fighting through the challenges ahead.
