Ben Johnson Adopting Lions’ Philosophy for Caleb Williams, Says Ex-NFLer, as Bears HC Denies Dan Campbell Friction

“….that runway has been built there. Brad (Holmes) and Dan (Campbell) have really built that roster up.” Ben Johnson is satisfied that his previous team, the Detroit Lions, has developed their roster pretty well. But now, as he shifted to a new franchise, Johnson has the role of constructing a new team in Chicago. And for this, he is shaking up the coaching staff, as well as deconstructing the team’s playbook. Deconstructing?

Yes! Deconstructing for Caleb Williams. According to former NFL guard, Mark Schlereth, in a Thursday’s episode of The Stinkin Truth Podcast, Ben Johnson is deconstructing the team’s playbook in order to reconstruct it around the quarterback. He expressed, “One of the things he said is, he was going to deconstruct the Playbook and he said a lot of coaches will come in and just flop down the Playbook, go (like) this is what we do. (But) he goes, ‘I need to deconstruct my playbook and rebuild it based on Caleb Williams.’”

So, instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all system, Johnson is tailoring strategies to fit his QB’s unique skill set. With his statements, Schlereth pointed out that Ben Johnson did something similar in Detroit, adapting to Jared Goff’s strength. And the result? Goff led his team to two back-to-back NFL playoffs for the first time in franchise history. So, Johnson will be applying the same approach in Chicago. And this adaptability reflects Johnson’s understanding of the game and his belief in setting players up for success.

But we all know that being a head coach is not an easy task. You just can’t go about X’s and O’s all the time, as responsibilities multiply with the position. So, is Ben Johnson himself ready to step up his game in every aspect? Mark Schlereth’s co-host, Mike Evans thinks he is! But how? The answer to this is Dan Campbell.

Evans believes that Johnson’s experience with Campbell has prepared him well to manage relationships, media obligations, and the entire team’s culture. Toughness, selflessness, and building strong connections—Johnson has learned all under his former coach. Even Ben Johnson believes the same!

Rumors of Ben Johnson and Dan Campbell’s friction true?

On January 21, 2025, Ben Johnson was named the 18th head coach of the Bears. It was a great day for the franchise, including the quarterback, Caleb Williams, who couldn’t control his emotions. However, this move upset the Lions’ fans. However, according to Big D Energy podcast host Neal Ruhl, a report claimed – “There was potentially some friction in the organization with Ben Johnson, with Dan Campbell, to the degree that he might not have been back regardless this year.” This rumor spread like wildfire, even reaching the ears of Ben Johnson via a reporter.

So, are these rumors true? The media asked the same question to him, and the newly hired head coach replied, “No. I’ve never heard of that before in my life. That guy [Dan Campbell] is one of my best friends, he is a mentor of mine, and I view him like family.” Ben Johnson’s stance was clear: there is no friction between him and Dan Campbell. So, the rumors are all false. But yes, there is a rivalry now, as they are both in the same division (NFC North).

So, it will be fascinating to watch how it all unfolds between these two rivals. As well as in Chicago with Ben Johnson, and in Detroit without Ben Johnson!