Ben Johnson's departure for Bears
from champ Lions keeps NFC North rivalries roaring
[August 28, 2025]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
None of the seven other divisions in the NFL's current alignment can
stake claim to rivalries richer or stronger than in the NFC North,
where the quartet representing four proud heartland states will have
more than 370 combined seasons in the league after this year.
The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions are three of
the NFL's five oldest franchises. The relative newbie Minnesota
Vikings entered in 1961, long before the Super Bowl existed or man
landed on the moon.
The Bears and Packers were essentially the league's original
archenemies. The Vikings have made a 21st century pattern of picking
up former Packers, from Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre to
current starting running back Aaron Jones. The long-languishing
Lions have recently upped the intensity of their rivalries with all
three foes, too, with consecutive division titles suddenly making
them a circled game on the schedule.
Ben Johnson made the latest move to stir up big feelings within the
NFC North.
The former Lions offensive coordinator, who designed and directed
the playbook for the highest-scoring team in the NFL last season,
crossed Lake Michigan in January to become coach of the Bears.
“I’ve always admired what this place could be," Johnson said at his
introductory news conference, “because I’ve faced them twice a year
over the last six years and I’ve really felt like it’s close to
going over the hump.”
Buckle up, Ben.
For all the potential he has inherited on his new roster, this
first-timer on the job will lead a squad that finished last in 2024
behind three teams that went a combined 30-11 during the regular
season. The Lions, Vikings and Packers all lost their first playoff
game, further stoking their fires to improve and prompting several
targeted additions for all three clubs to address particular
weaknesses.
The Lions are still stacked
While losing the intelligence and leadership of Johnson and
defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who became head coach of the New
York Jets, from the staff that oversaw the Lions go 15-2 last season
has been a hardship, coach Dan Campbell has said this is the best
roster he's had in five years.
“There’s going to be nothing easy about it. But every year you do
this and you just realize, ‘Hey man, just get in,'” Campbell said.
“Win this division: That's always going to be the goal.”
McCarthy's debut with Vikings puts him squarely in the spotlight
Call this the reboot for J.J. McCarthy. With Sam Darnold ably
stepping in as the Vikings went 14-3, the 10th-overall pick in the
2024 draft was limited to meetings and rehabilitation during his
rookie year after a preseason knee injury. McCarthy has a bulked-up
offensive line in front of him, a fierce defense behind him and a
locker room full of admirers despite not having taken a snap in a
regular-season game.
“The whole organization holds him to a high standard," said new
center Ryan Kelly. "But it’s not nearly the standard he holds on
himself."
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches from the sideline
during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the
Miami Dolphins Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul
Sancya)
Packers pack plenty of confidence and potential,
too
The Packers were the best third-place team in the league last year
at 11-6, bringing back a young core led by quarterback Jordan Love
that has a clear path for continued ascension. They've got
championship aspirations, too.
“You’ve got to understand what’s in front of us," general manager
Brian Gutekunst said. "We’ve got a really good football team, the
capability of being there, and you’ve got to take advantage of
that.”
Getting the Bears going faster is one of
Johnson's top goals
One of the attractions with the Bears that Johnson cited in
describing his eagerness to take the job is the presence of 2024
first-overall draft pick Caleb Williams, whose rookie year was a
rocky ride. The Bears had several fourth-quarter stumbles and lost
seven times by six points or less. They also had a habit of sluggish
starts to games that factored into a 5-12 finish, a pattern that was
still apparent during the preseason.
“We’re on a mission right now to make sure that doesn’t become a
constant recurring theme,” Johnson said.
Circles on the calendar
The division rivalries will be reactivated right away. The Lions,
who have won six of the last seven matchups with the Packers, open
at Green Bay on Sept. 7. The following night, McCarthy makes his
debut for the Vikings against the Bears in Chicago.
The Lions have seven nationally televised games, including at home
against Green Bay on Thanksgiving and at Minnesota on Christmas. The
Vikings get their last two games at home, finishing against the
Packers. They also play back-to-back road games on a neutral field,
the first team to play two international games in two different
countries in consecutive weeks: against Pittsburgh in Dublin on
Sept. 28 and against Cleveland in London on Oct. 5.
Defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia appears on every NFC
North schedule, including at Green Bay on Monday night, Nov. 10. The
Bears visit the Eagles in the Black Friday game on Amazon Prime
Video.
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