Matt LaFleur has been the head coach of the Green Bay Packers since 2019. He will go against a fourth different head coach of the Chicago Bears when the Packers play their bitter rival in the upcoming season.
LaFleur has seen and heard the Bears talk trash about the Packers for years. However, the Bears’ lone win over Green Bay in the 2020s came in January’s upset when Thomas Brown was the interim head coach for Chicago.
Ben Johnson took a shot at Matt LaFleur
During Ben Johnson’s introductory press conference in January, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator gave his version of a trope that Lovie Smith and Matt Nagy did when they were introduced as the head coach of the Bears.
He took a shot at the Packers, but he made it personal by saying LaFleur’s name.
Johnson said that he enjoyed beating LaFleur twice a year when he was with Detroit. During Johnson’s three seasons as OC, the Lions swept Green Bay in 2022 and 2024. The series was split in 2023.
During the annual league meeting on Tuesday, LaFleur was asked by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic what he made of Johnson’s jab. Some in the media speculated Johnson and LaFleur don’t have a friendly history.
A phony shot at the Green Bay Packers
LaFleur said he doesn’t have a past with Johnson and thought the new Bears coach was acting a little phony to pander to Bears fans.
“I do not,” LaFleur said on whether he has a history with Johnson before saying that he didn’t care about the shot the new coach of the Bears made.
“That’s alright,” LaFleur said. “I’m sure he’s playing to the fans a little bit. It is what it is. I’m not going to lose too much sleep over that one.”
Despite Ben Johnson’s opening presser shot at him about “beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” LaFleur does not go way back with Johnson like he does other head coaches.
“I’m sure he’s playing to the fans a little bit.” pic.twitter.com/C0vuSb4yih
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) April 1, 2025
He might not lose too much sleep over Johnson’s jab, but the NFC North will keep him up at night this fall. The Packers had a 1-5 record against the NFC North in 2024. They would have gone 0-6 if not for a blocked field goal as time expired against Chicago on Nov. 17.
Chicago is only getting tougher with Johnson, five new starters in the trenches, and four selections scheduled for the first 72 picks in this April’s draft.
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