The Detroit Lions are preparing to face their former offensive coordinator for the first time since he left the team, but one member of the current coaching staff has grown tired of talking about it.
Ben Johnson was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears this offseason following six years as an assistant in Detroit. The Lions will host the Bears on Sunday, so the media has been focused on head coach Dan Campbell squaring off against his former offensive coordinator.
On Friday, Lions defensive coordinator Ben Sheppard was asked several questions about the challenges of facing Johnson, whom Sheppard worked with for the last several years. One reporter asked Sheppard what the coach thinks is Johnson’s greatest strength as a playcaller. Sheppard practically interrupted the question with a blunt response.
“Everything. Next question,” Sheppard said.
A different reporter then asked how much Sheppard is looking forward to “the chess match” he will have against Johnson. The coach seemed to get even more irritated at that point.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our players respond off of a loss. I could care less who’s calling the plays, who’s over there, what’s the scenario, what the media wants to make this out to be,” Sheppard said. “We are coming off a loss, ladies and gentlemen. I’m looking forward to seeing not only our players, but our coaches, respond coming off of a loss.”
#Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard on facing former Detroit OC — now #Bears HC — Ben Johnson this week 😅 pic.twitter.com/DWZ9adwSqa
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 12, 2025
The Lions were dominated 27-13 by the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Things started out so poorly that Campbell even got the meme treatment, with fans wondering if he is going to struggle without Johnson and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is now the head coach of the New York Jets.
Johnson and the Bears suffered a different kind of defeat, collapsing in the fourth quarter of their 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson was blasted for one poor late-game decision.
Both Chicago’s and Detroit’s coaching staffs are focused on trying to avoid an 0-2 start.
