Dan Campbell Puts Ben Johnson in His Place With New Comments

 
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is putting Chicago Bears coach and former Lions coordinator Ben Johnson in his place.
The Detroit Lions are heading into what will be a very high-profile season for the team. Since the Lions are considered contenders in the NFL, there’s always a lot of attention on the team, but this year, it’s going to be even more so, because Campbell is coaching for the first time without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Johnson, yes, went to the Chicago Bears, which are a big rival for the Detroit Lions. It was disappointing to see him turn heel like that, but this is the NFL, and both coaches and players have to do what’s best for themselves. So, there are no hard feeling. Well, maybe there are a few hard feelings, but as long as the Lions beat the Bears, we’re all good.

So, when the Detroit Lions take the field against the Chicago Bears for their two games this season, there are going to be some major tensions, since Johnson and Campbell will be facing off against each other. Now, Campbell has sent a telling message to Johnson, and it shows that he’s not playing around this season.

 
Detroit Lions Coach Dan Campbell Doesn’t Hold Back on Ben Johnson
Campbell isn’t concerned at all about taking on his former offensive coordinator. He’s ready and seems to be welcoming the challenge. Speaking in an interview with WXYZ Sports Director Brad Galli, the Detroit Lions coach said that he’ll treat his games against Johnson and the Bears in the NFC North this season the same as he would going up against any other team, but he also said that he’s going to be “out for blood.” Tell us how you really feel, Dan.

“I want to beat them, we want to beat them, I’m sure they want to beat us,” Campbell said. “But no, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’re out for blood.”

Campbell also talked about whether he and Johnson are still buddies. It has to be difficult to be good friends with someone who’s now coaching the rival team, but Campbell says they’re friendly. He explained that he and Johnson still have a good relationship and have seen each other a bit during the offseason, but he didn’t say how or when they met up this offseason. Maybe they went to a Metallica show together, since Campbell is such a fan, but probably not.

“I’ve said this before, if I really did this right, I should be able to just leave and these guys don’t miss a beat,” Campbell said during the chat. “I think if you really do your job, that can happen.”

 
Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions Coach Ranking
Campbell, even without Johnson, is still considered a force in the NFL. In a feature for NBC Sports back in April, Patrick Daugherty names the top coaches in the NFL. He has Campbell at No. 7 on the tally.

“The NFL’s ultimate tone setter now has to figure out how to make 2025 a season of redemption instead of decline,” he says in the piece. “Campbell has aced test after test. This will be his trickiest one yet.”

So, this season will be a test for Campbell. But, he’s already passed the test of getting the Detroit Lions further than they’re nearly ever gotten in the NFL, so he really has nothing to prove.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson