A key player for the Detroit Lions is finally addressing what it means to lose Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears.
It’s been a few months since former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson departed for NFC North rival the Bears, but the sting remains—especially for the players he coached. What makes it worse is that Johnson joined a direct competitor within the division, making it feel like watching an ex move on with a rival.
Still, in the NFL, it’s strictly business. Now, one Lions star is sharing his thoughts on Johnson’s move to Chicago.
At the 2025 NFLPA Classic Golf Tournament, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta sat down for an interview with FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams. The two discussed the Lions’ future, and when asked about Johnson’s departure, LaPorta admitted that it “hurts” but also expressed optimism for the team’s next steps.
“It hurts… You spend a lot of time with these people, invest a lot of energy and effort and hard work together,” LaPorta said. “You’re excited that he’s going to go run his own team and organization and have a lot on his plate. So, just very exciting times for him.”
Despite feeling the loss, LaPorta said he’s looking ahead and eager for what the Lions can accomplish moving forward.
“It’s exciting times for us, too, as we turn towards our new staff and have a bright future together as well,” he said.
The Lions didn’t delay in replacing Johnson. Shortly after his departure, they hired offensive coordinator John Morton, and LaPorta is looking forward to working with him.
“I’ve sat down with (Morton) for maybe 10 or 15 minutes,” LaPorta said. “I got to know him personally. But as a coach, it’s yet to be determined. We have a great future in front of us, we’re excited to work with each other.”
J ohnson and Lions quarterback Jared Goff had an excellent connection, helping Goff reach some of the best performances of his career. Now, Johnson’s focus shifts to developing Bears quarterback Caleb Williams into the kind of signal-caller Chicago fans are hoping for.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this past February, Johnson raved about his new quarterback.
“Out of structure, the off-schedule, the creation…that’s what stands out the most because that’s really the way that this league is going right now,” Johnson said about Williams. “It seems like as much as you want to make it pure progression, one to two to three, there’s just too much variety.”
He continued, “The pass rush is coming down, and to have an athlete like Caleb extend the play and potentially find an explosive down the field. That’s what gets me going a little bit. I get excited thinking about that because I haven’t been around that since I’ve been in the league.”
