There are many Detroit Lions fans who consider former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson the modern-day version of Benedict Arnold after he took the Chicago Bears' head-coaching gig earlier this offseason.
Johnson was a revelation as a play-caller for the Lions during his three seasons on the job, and that made him one of the hottest head-coaching candidates in recent memory.
Johnson didn't immediately take a head-coaching gig upon becoming a star with the Lions, though, and instead waited it out a few years before ultimately landing in Chicago this offseason.
Considering how highly-touted Johnson was, he had plenty of options. However, he chose one of the last places Lions fans wanted him to go, which was with a division rival, and that decision was shocking to Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
Holmes was a guest on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast and touched on the subject of Johnson going to the Lions' division rival.
Safe to say, Holmes was surprised that's where Johnson ended up.
"Obviously there were multiple jobs that were open that cycle," Holmes said. So, I knew that he had interviewed for Chicago, but he interviewed for a lot of the other positions too, I really didn't know which way it was going to go. I was thinking Chicago would probably be the last destination. Or I was probably hoping that."
"I was happy for him," Holmes added. "He's a hell of a coach, they have a really good one up there. But, it's just a little like. man, why Chicago?"
Johnson's Lions tenure did not end on a high note, as he was criticized for multiple play-calling decisions in the Lions' disappointing playoff loss to the Washington Commanders that ended the team's 2024 season earlier than expected.
But that's peanuts compared to the head-coaching decision Johnson made that will have him facing off against his former mates twice per year for the foreseeable future.
Johnson is sure to hear all about it from Lions fans when he makes his return to Detroit for the first time in Week 2.
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