What ‘threw off’ former Lions’ LB about Ben Johnson departure

The Detroit Lions had a difficult time manufacturing success during the 2025 NFL season. One year after the Lions won the NFC North division title and earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff structure, Detroit finished in last place in the division.

Former Lions LB Alex Anzalone on Ben Johnson choosing to accept the Bears’ HC offer: “I wasn’t surprised he left, but I think we were all thrown off that he picked Chicago.” https://t.co/dLQ7s6yemO pic.twitter.com/k6uaTM03Z8

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 9, 2026

One of the reasons the Lions were so much more effective in 2024 than they were last year was the efficiency and explosiveness of the offense. The Lions had Ben Johnson as their offensive coordinator, and he became the “hot” assistant in the offseason. He was hired away from the Lions by the division rival Chicago Bears, and that move weakened the Lions and made the Bears significantly stronger.

Former Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone left the team in the offseason and signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He explained to NFL insider Jordan Schultz the impact Johnson’s defection had on the Lions.

“I remember seeing him in the weight room just a couple of days before he left,” Anzalone said. “I asked him if he was staying or going, and he did not know.

“However, leaving to coach the Bears was a surprise,” Anzalone said. “We were all thrown off when he picked Chicago because there’s bad blood with that team and it’s a division rival.”

Anzalone said he was not surprised that Johnson and the Bears had success. The Tampa Bay linebacker explained that Johnson is going to win with a quarterback like Caleb Williams. He added that the Bears needed just a bit of an upgrade on defense and that’s just what they got as they finished in first place in the NFC North.

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