Former Lions Linebacker Surprised Ben Johnson Chose Bears Over Division Rival

Alex Anzalone says the Lions' locker room was caught off guard by Johnson's decision to leave for Chicago.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, fragmented painting depicting a football game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.The unexpected move of former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson joining the rival Bears has added extra intrigue to the NFC North rivalry.Chicago Today

Former Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone spoke about Ben Johnson's decision to leave the Lions and take the head coaching job with their NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears. Anzalone said the Lions' locker room was surprised Johnson chose to join the Bears, a division rival, rather than stay in Detroit where he had a close relationship with head coach Dan Campbell.

Why it matters

Johnson's departure from the Lions was a significant move, as he was widely considered one of the top head coaching candidates on the market. His decision to join the Bears, a divisional rival, added an extra layer of intrigue and potential animosity between the two teams going forward.

The details

Anzalone told NFL insider Jordan Schultz that while the Lions weren't surprised Johnson left Detroit, they were caught off guard that he chose to join the Bears. 'When I saw him take the Chicago job, I was pretty surprised, just because him and Dan [Campbell] were like [close], and it's a division rival,' Anzalone said.

  • Ben Johnson accepted the Bears' head coaching job in April 2026.

The players

Ben Johnson

The former offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions who left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, a division rival.

Dan Campbell

The head coach of the Detroit Lions, who had a close relationship with Ben Johnson when he was the offensive coordinator.

Alex Anzalone

A former linebacker for the Detroit Lions who commented on Ben Johnson's departure to the Bears.

Jahmyr Gibbs

A running back for the Detroit Lions who was part of their offense during the post-Ben Johnson era.

Amon-Ra St. Brown

A wide receiver for the Detroit Lions who was part of their offense during the post-Ben Johnson era.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I wasn't surprised he left, but I think we were all thrown off that he picked Chicago.”

— Alex Anzalone, Former Lions Linebacker

“When I saw him take the Chicago job, I was pretty surprised, just because him and Dan [Campbell] were like [close], and it's a division rival.”

— Alex Anzalone, Former Lions Linebacker

What’s next

The Bears and Lions will face off twice in the 2026 NFL season, giving Ben Johnson a chance to get his first win over his former team.

The takeaway

Johnson's decision to leave the Lions and join their division rival Bears has added an extra layer of intrigue and potential animosity to the NFC North rivalry, as the Lions' locker room was caught off guard by the unexpected move.