Before becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.
That’s why Detroit’s new defensive coordinator used three interesting words to describe the upcoming NFC North matchup.
“Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard says he told his guys this is basically ‘training camp practice’ vs. Chicago, going up against former OC Ben Johnson, with all their connections to each other,” Eric Woodyard wrote on X.
#Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard says he told his guys this is basically "training camp practice" vs. Chicago, going up against former OC Ben Johnson, with all their connections to each other.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) September 11, 2025
Sheppard took over as coordinator after Aaron Glenn was hired as head coach of the New York Jets this offseason.
The former linebackers coach has respect for Johnson, praising him as a playcaller, but he also has useful knowledge after watching him every day.
Then again, that’s a two-way street.
In the same way Sheppard and head coach Dan Campbell know Johnson’s approach, mindset, preparation and scheme, he was there to watch them as well.
The Lions and Bears each lost their season opener, and they know how difficult it is to overcome an 0-2 start.
The Bears will face Johnson’s former team at Ford Field, and while he might receive a warm welcome, it will be business as usual for the other players and the coaches.
Johnson seemed to use some pages out of Campbell’s book in his head coaching debut, but not the good ones.
He mismanaged the game in the second half and took too many unnecessary risks against the Minnesota Vikings.
Now, he could look to make a statement in his first outing against his former boss.
NEXT: Lions Make Concerning Move In Latest Power Rankings
