Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson recently had the chance to toss the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field before a Chicago Cubs game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Johnson showed decent command, getting the ball over the plate with noticeable sink on the throw.

Lions supporters had fun on social media, joking that the new Chicago Bears head coach might be outperforming Tigers reliever Kenta Maeda, who’s had a rough beginning to the 2025 season.

“I’ve been going through a really difficult time over the past two years,” Maeda told reporters recently, per the Detroit News. “I’ve never faced struggles this severe in my whole pitching career. It’s clear I’ve had some very discouraging moments. But I can’t let that take over. I’ve got to fight through it, stay mentally strong and optimistic.”

Maeda was recently removed from a ninth-inning appearance after failing to record outs, despite the Tigers holding a solid lead over the Kansas City Royals.

“We’ve got to be able to finish that ninth inning,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Kenta is capable, but right now he just seems out of rhythm and isn’t hitting his spots. When that happens—no matter the score or frequency—it’s a tough situation.”

Detroit is close to finishing off a sweep against the Royals at Comerica Park, but they now prepare for a crucial series against the San Diego Padres.

Hinch added, “When he runs into trouble, it usually starts with missing on first-pitch strikes. He ends up in bad counts, and it snowballs. Hitting the zone early really solves most of those problems.”