Ben Johnson Contacting Dennis Allen Further Upsets Lions Fans
Ben Johnson reached out early to discuss possibilities with Dennis Allen.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson speaks at an introductory press conference.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson speaks at an introductory press conference.
Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson contacted former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen late in the 2024 season to see if the experienced coach would consider working alongside a first-time NFL head coach.
“As the season progressed, he reached out to gauge my interest,” Allen said during his introductory media session, per Sports Illustrated. “I told him that I would be open to it.”
Lions fans were upset upon learning Johnson had begun exploring future prospects while still preparing his current team for a Super Bowl run.
“I felt a connection with Ben, even though we didn’t know each other well,” Allen stated. “He relied on mutual connections for insight about me, and I did the same about him. We both felt this was an excellent fit.”
Allen emphasized that he wants the Bears’ defense to be aggressive and consistently play a tough, hard-nosed style of football.
“We want to dictate the pace to the offense instead of reacting to them. We’ll be aggressive,” Allen explained. “We’ll challenge every play, compete the right way, and bring a tough, physical brand of football every week.”