🚨 POWER MOVE LOOMING: Ben Johnson Has a Chance to Hurt the Lions—and He Knows It. DH

Success always comes with a bill due.

For the Chicago Bears, that bill arrived quickly after their best season in nearly a decade. An NFC North title. A playoff win.

A culture shift that finally felt real. And now, the inevitable consequence—other teams circling to take pieces of what Ben Johnson built.

The first domino has already fallen.

Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is gone, leaving Chicago for Baltimore to run the Ravens’ offense. The move creates a pressing vacancy for Johnson as he reshapes his staff ahead of 2026.

But it also opens the door to something far more interesting—something that could sting Detroit deeply.

Because with one phone call, Ben Johnson could weaken the Lions and strengthen the Bears at the same time.

The Name That Keeps Coming Up

Detroit thought it had stabilized its offensive staff by hiring Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator. For Chicago, that hire quietly closed one door—and opened another.

According to A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton, Petzing would have been Johnson’s ideal replacement for Doyle.

The two share football DNA: run-game centric philosophies, aggressive play-calling, and heavy tight-end usage. They also share history, dating back to their time together at Boston College.

There was even a personal layer—Petzing was a groomsman in Johnson’s wedding.

That door is now closed. But the relationship web doesn’t end there.

Enter Hank Fraley.

Why Hank Fraley Matters

Fraley isn’t a flashy name nationally, but inside league circles, he’s gold. Detroit’s offensive line has been one of the most consistent and physical units in football—and Fraley has been at the center of that identity.

Johnson wanted Fraley in Chicago last year. Detroit stopped it by giving Fraley a raise and keeping him in-house for 2025. At the time, it worked.

Now? The situation has changed.

There’s no obvious barrier preventing Fraley from interviewing for Chicago’s offensive coordinator job. And the timing couldn’t be more delicate for Detroit.

History, Trust, and Timing

Johnson and Fraley’s relationship isn’t theoretical—it’s lived-in.

They arrived in Detroit one year apart. They climbed the ladder together. Fraley became offensive line coach in 2020.

Johnson became offensive coordinator in 2022. They were part of the same rise—and the same collapse that saw Detroit lose the division to Chicago in 2025.

That shared history matters.

NFL coaching hires are rarely just about scheme. They’re about trust. Language. Rhythm. Fraley already speaks Johnson’s football fluently.

And for Chicago, that matters even more now.

Why This Would Hurt the Lions

Detroit’s offensive line has been the backbone of its identity. Losing Fraley wouldn’t just mean replacing a coach—it would mean risking continuity, development, and cohesion in a unit that defines the team.

It would also force Dan Campbell to scramble again, just one year after staff reshuffling already cost Detroit momentum.

For Chicago, the upside is obvious.

A trusted voice. A run-game architect. A subtle but devastating blow to a divisional rival.

Is This Petty—or Just Smart?

In the NFL, there’s no such thing as revenge. There’s leverage.

Johnson wouldn’t be “trolling” Detroit. He’d be doing what successful head coaches do—surrounding himself with people he trusts while weakening the teams he has to beat.

This is how power shifts happen in the NFC North. Quietly. Structurally. Over coffee, not headlines.

If Johnson makes the call, Detroit won’t complain publicly.

But they’ll feel it every Sunday.