Bears head coach Ben Johnson recently praised Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, saying he completely agreed with Tomlin’s comments about the recent spitting incident involving Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Johnson pointed out that Tomlin’s approach to leadership is one of the main reasons he has never endured a losing season, and why so many around the league hold him in high regard.

Johnson explained that Tomlin’s authenticity and willingness to hold his players accountable stand out. He referenced Tomlin’s remarks after it surfaced that Chase had spit on Ramsey during the game—a fact that wasn’t clear until later. The officials only saw Ramsey’s punch in response and ejected him, while Chase went unpenalized until video confirmed what actually happened, eventually leading to his suspension.

When Tomlin was asked about the incident, he emphasized that spitting on someone is completely outside the norms of football and added that he wouldn’t tell a player how to react if someone spits in their face. “Do what comes naturally,” he said. For Ramsey, that meant striking Chase, and while opinions differ on whether his reaction was justified, many see spitting as one of the most disrespectful actions imaginable.

Now the league must decide whether Ramsey’s in-game ejection was sufficient or if further discipline—such as a fine—is warranted. Should he be fined, there will likely be debate about whether mitigating circumstances could lead to a successful appeal.

Johnson’s alignment with Tomlin’s viewpoint isn’t surprising, and he’s far from the only one defending Ramsey’s reaction. Chase didn’t help his case by initially denying that he spit on Ramsey and later shifting his story. His performance didn’t soften criticism either; he finished the game with only three catches for 30 yards, and with the Bengals’ season essentially finished, his suspension only sets the team back further.

Although no one is endorsing violence, the lingering question remains: how should someone respond when spit on? Most people seem comfortable with the way Ramsey reacted, and both Tomlin and Johnson clearly fall in that majority.