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A former $60 million Detroit Lions player isn’t happy about how his time there ended and may get revenged with the Chicago Bears.
During the NFL free agency period, teams regularly let go of players, even beloved ones, and it’s nothing personal. But, sometimes business feels personal, and now, one Detroit Lions player who was let go during free agency period may get his revenge on the team with an arch rival, the Chicago Bears.
Yes, former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Bears are back to terrorize the Lions in the 2026-27 season, even though Detroit beat them twice last season. This former player also recently conveyed how upset he was about how his time with the Detroit Lions ended and talked about a communication breakdown between his camp and the franchise. It’s a messy situation, but now, that player may have a new opportunity that lets him forget about the past and move into the future without the Lions.
Former Detroit Lions Player Keeps Getting Linked to Ben Johnson and Chicago Bears
At the end of the 2025-26 season, the Detroit Lions and left tackle Taylor Decker cut ties, and it wasn’t pretty. In an interview out on Saturday, March 28, with Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, Decker gives a troubling account of what happened to him as he was leaving the team.
“It’s been radio silence. It’s uncomfortable,” he told Rogers in the interview. “It’s awkward. It feels like a high school breakup, where you can’t make eye contact when passing each other in the hall.” He also details a communication breakdown and claimed that general manager Brad Holmes wouldn’t get back to him when requested.
According to Rogers, what’s difficult for Decker is that “this does feel a little personal. Since talking to Campbell on Feb. 23, he hasn’t heard from team leadership. There wasn’t a follow-up from his coach, Holmes never reached out, and Decker had to make first contact with position coach Hank Fraley, a man he publicly went to bat for when Campbell was hired.”
Now, in a Thursday, April 2 feature for SI, Mike Moraitis names three free agents that could start for the Chicago Bears in the 2026-27 season right now. In the piece, he says that “perhaps the Bears can open up enough money to make one last swing at a starting-caliber player in free agency.”
One of those players, you guessed it, is Decker. Moraitis makes the good point that it would feel good to Johnson to pour a little salt in the wound with this pick.
Player Signing Would ‘Stick It To’ the Detroit Lions
“If there’s one thing Ben Johnson and the Bears love to do, it’s to stick it to the Detroit Lions,” he says, adding that inking Decker “would do just that, while also addressing a big question mark for Chicago.”
He adds, “The Bears may not have Ozzy Trapilo for the entire season due to a torn Achilles and that leaves the team with a shaky competition between Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet and Jedrick Wills at left tackle. Decker, who was released by the Lions after not wanting to take a pay cut, is coming off a down year, but that down year was still better than what the aforementioned players can provide.”
Plus, Moraitis says that what else makes this signing a go is that “Decker has experience in Johnson’s offense from their days together in Detroit, so it’s a seamless transition for the veteran left tackle.” It’s a move that makes sense, but we’ll see if it happens.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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