Ben Johnson’s first appearance in Detroit since his offseason departure is set to come early in the 2025 NFL campaign, and it may be under tense circumstances.

As portions of the upcoming NFL schedule continue to emerge prior to the full announcement, reports indicate that Johnson—now head coach of the Chicago Bears—will lead his new team into Detroit for the Lions’ home opener in Week 2. According to the Chicago Tribune, the divisional matchup is scheduled for a Noon kickoff on Sunday, September 14.

Johnson, who accepted the Bears’ job the moment league rules permitted coaching changes, left Detroit quickly after the season’s end. Many Lions supporters viewed his exit with frustration, blaming him in part for the team’s playoff shortcomings. Consequently, his return to Ford Field is expected to be anything but cordial.

While this early-season clash carries significant narrative weight, particularly with Johnson on the opposing sideline, it will not be played in a primetime slot. Still, the Bears will not lack national visibility this season. Their campaign begins in Week 1 with a Monday Night Football home game against another NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

The schedule puts Johnson’s Bears through a difficult opening stretch, facing two division foes back-to-back. Chicago has struggled to compete consistently within the NFC North in recent seasons, so setting high expectations for victories in both games may be unrealistic. However, if Johnson’s squad can show competitiveness in these early tests, it could be seen as a promising start to his tenure.

The Lions and Bears will meet again at the opposite end of the season. The final week of the regular season, Week 18, will see the two teams face off at Soldier Field in Chicago. That contest could carry postseason implications depending on how the standings develop.

Johnson’s return to Detroit—only months after his departure—adds a layer of drama to an already intense rivalry. For Lions fans, the narrative of their former coordinator now leading a division adversary will likely make the matchup one of the most emotionally charged games of the year.