Ben Johnson Called “Douche” After Weird Jab at Packers Ahead of Wild Card Showdown
There is something undeniably tragic about peaking too early, isn’t there? The Chicago Bears, led by head coach Ben Johnson, seemed to be riding high on a wave of optimism after clinching the NFC North title weeks ago. But reality has a funny way of checking egos at the door. Following a gut-wrenching 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 18, Johnson’s squad is limping into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. It’s hardly the momentum you want when the stakes are do-or-die.
After the game, Johnson didn’t exactly hide his frustration. He looked less like a division winner and more like a guy who just watched his car get towed. “Disappointing to lose that one, in that fashion, there,” Johnson said, clearly trying to find the positives in a messy situation. “Guys were battling, they fought their tails off, but came up short. So, we gotta play better going forward, we gotta coach better going forward as well.”
The offense, in particular, was practically nonexistent for three quarters, which is… ideal? No, wait, the other thing. It was terrible. Johnson wasn’t shy about calling it out, either. “I was not pleased with the offense today,” he admitted. “We can’t dig ourselves in a hole like that. I was disappointed with the offense as a whole. I let those guys know that.” You can almost hear the locker room silence from here.
The “Douche” Comment Heard ‘Round the NFC North
Here is where things get spicy. While Johnson was busy lamenting his team’s performance, he decided to take a weird, unprompted shot at the Green Bay Packers. You know, the team they are about to face in the Wild Card round?
While discussing the loss, Johnson made a point to puff his chest out about playing his starters, unlike some teams. “Everyone is disappointed,” Johnson stated. “I appreciate their effort. Some teams, they rest their starters. We don’t. We play football.”
Shots fired. The Packers, led by Matt LaFleur, famously rested key players like quarterback Jordan Love during their Week 18 loss to the Vikings. It was a strategic move to keep them healthy for the playoffs. Johnson, apparently, thinks strategy is for cowards.
Enter Ben Brust, an analyst for “ESPN Milwaukee,” who wasn’t having any of Johnson’s “tough guy” routine. Brust went on air Monday and absolutely roasted the Bears coach.
“Dude, he’s such a bada**,” Brust said, practically dripping with sarcasm. “Did you hear that? He’s such a bada**. Dude, they play football, man. He’s the only guy in the NFL that has that tough mindset… I don’t know if it’s a shot at LaFleur, or is he just a fake tough guy or both. Because he just screams douche.”
Ouch. Calling an NFL head coach a “douche” on live radio is certainly a choice, but honestly? It’s kind of funny. Johnson has a history of these weird flexing moments, having previously bragged about enjoying beating the Packers “twice a year” back when he was with the Lions. It seems old habits die hard.
Caleb Williams and the Pressure Cooker
Amidst all the trash talk and name-calling, there is an actual football game to be played. The Bears are set to host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field this Saturday night. It’s the No. 2 seed vs. the No. 7 seed, but with the Bears sliding and the Packers resting up, it feels a lot closer than the seeding suggests.
Johnson, for his part, is trying to pivot the narrative back to his quarterback, Caleb Williams. The sophomore QB has had a solid year, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. But the playoffs are a different beast.
“He’s played in a lot of big games over the course of his life,” Johnson said of his young signal-caller. “I think he’s primed and he’s ready to go. He was built for these moments.”
He better be. Because if the Bears crash out of the playoffs immediately after Johnson talked smack about “playing football” while other teams rested, the ridicule from Green Bay fans (and analysts like Brust) is going to be deafening.
It’s shaping up to be a classic NFC North grudge match. You have the “tough guy” coach who refuses to rest players versus the strategic rival who is arguably fresher. Saturday night can’t come soon enough. Grab your popcorn, folks; this one is going to be messy.
