The Detroit Lions became the talk of the NFL after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson helped craft an exciting offense centered around Jared Goff and a solid offensive line. It didn’t take long for the new head coach of the Chicago Bears to bring one of his former players to Illinois. Johnson and the Bears acquired ex-Lions guard Jonah Jackson through a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, sending a 2025 sixth-round pick in return. This comes just days after Jackson, who signed a three-year contract worth over $50 million during the offseason, was given permission to explore a trade. Johnson had already taken half of the Lions’ offensive coaching staff when he joined the Bears, and now he’s brought his first former player along. If the version of Jackson Lions fans saw for four years shows up in Chicago, it could be a worrying development for Detroit.
Former Lions OC Ben Johnson acquires Jonah Jackson in Bears trade
Jackson only played four games last season due to an injury and a benching, which might obscure his past success with the Lions for many. He was a Pro Bowl guard who became a consistent starter for a Detroit team that built its offense around a dominant offensive line. Jackson, drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by Detroit, is now somewhat of a gamble. While still effective when healthy, he hasn’t played more than 13 games in a season since 2021. Johnson and the Bears acquired him for a bargain due to these health concerns.
Jackson has allowed just two sacks in the last three seasons, even with the injuries. Given Williams’ biggest issue is holding onto the ball, Jackson could help him address this flaw immediately. Time will tell if Johnson can replicate the most efficient and creative offense in the league that he helped build in Detroit. If the Jackson move proves to be a mistake, the Lions can take comfort in the fact that their division rival failed once again.