Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes on Ben Johnson taking the Chicago Bears head coaching job 👀

“I was thinking Chicago would have probably been the LAST destination… it’s a little like, man… WHY CHICAGO?”

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— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) June 12, 2025

Add Brad Holmes to the list of people who were shocked to see Ben Johnson head to the Chicago Bears.

The Detroit Lions general manager echoed some of his players in voicing his surprise when Johnson, the team’s former offensive coordinator, took the head coaching job in Chicago back in January. Holmes was a guest on the Green Light podcast with Chris Long this week and discussed the move that he claims he didn’t see coming.

“Obviously there were multiple jobs that were open that cycle, and so I knew that he had an interview for Chicago, but he interviewed for a lot of the other positions, too,” Holmes said. “I really didn’t know which way it was going to go. I was thinking Chicago would have probably been the last destination. Or I was probably hoping that, probably.”

Johnson was the hottest coaching candidate this past cycle and appeared to be the top choice for multiple teams. The Las Vegas Raiders specifically pursued him heavily and, at one point, were the favorites to land Johnson before he signed with the Bears.

Seeing as the Lions are a division rival of the Bears, Holmes may not have thought Johnson would stay within the NFC North for his head coaching gig. He, like wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, was bummed that he ended up with a team Detroit will have to go up against twice a year. But obviously, Holmes was happy for his former offensive coordinator and thinks Chicago has a bright mind leading the team.

“I was happy for him. He’s a hell of a coach, and they have a really good one up there.” However, Holmes may still be working through processing the whole ordeal. “It’s just a little like, ‘Why Chicago?'” he said with a chuckle.

Holmes won’t have to wait long to see Johnson on the opposing sideline. The Bears are set to square off against the Lions in Detroit in Week 2.

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