Ben Johnson Dismisses Rumor About Friction with Dan Campbell
It’s unfortunate this rumor gained traction, but Ben Johnson shut down the baseless claims about any tension with Dan Campbell.
Ben Johnson’s decision to leave the Detroit Lions and take the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears has upset a portion of Lions fans. His comments after arriving in Chicago on Tuesday didn’t help, even though he praised the Lions organization during his introductory press conference the following day.
Many Lions fans had hoped Johnson wouldn’t leave until the team won a Super Bowl, refusing to consider the possibility of his departure. That he joined a division rival only made things worse, with some fans labeling him a traitor—or worse.
In their frustration over Johnson’s exit, some fans questioned his focus during the playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. However, this perspective ignores the reality: Johnson completed his head coaching interviews 7-9 days before the game, well before the Lions knew their playoff opponent.
Ben Johnson Responds to Rumors About Dan Campbell
On Wednesday’s episode of Woodward Sports’ “Big D Energy,” co-host Neil Ruhl shared supposed insider information about Johnson’s departure.
“I got a phone call yesterday from a pretty good source, covers the National Football League,” Ruhl said. “He had a lot of interesting things to say about the Lions coaching movement. The Ben Johnson stuff was more interesting—there was potentially some friction in the organization with Ben Johnson and Dan Campbell, to the degree that Johnson might not have returned regardless this year.”
The idea that Campbell would have fired the play caller for the league’s top-scoring offense over “some friction” is far-fetched. Johnson may have had some challenges against Washington, but the Lions produced 521 yards of offense and scored 31 points—not exactly a poor performance.
Johnson addressed these rumors during his appearance on FS1’s “Breakfast Ball” Thursday morning. When co-host Craig Carton brought up Ruhl’s comments, Johnson denied them outright.
“No. I’ve never heard of that before in my life,” Johnson said. “Dan is one of my best friends, a mentor to me, and I view him as family.”
In his introductory press conference, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Johnson also referred to Campbell as “more than just a colleague…he is a friend and a mentor.
“Campbell, of course, didn’t want to lose Johnson but understood it was inevitable. Any speculation about friction between the two lacks credibility and shouldn’t be entertained without stronger evidence.
Next Steps for the Lions
The Lions will now begin their search for Johnson’s replacement, with some intriguing dark horse candidates emerging as potential fits for offensive coordinator.