why do ben johnson and matt lafleur not get along

Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur don’t appear to “hate” each other, but there is a clear, mostly one-sided rivalry vibe fueled by Johnson’s public comments and some awkward interactions, not by any known deep personal history.

What actually happened

• In his Chicago Bears introductory press conference, Ben Johnson joked that he took the job in part because he “kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” referencing his success as Lions offensive coordinator against the Packers.

• The line was delivered with a pause and a smile, clearly meant as a jab that would play well with Bears fans and stoke the Bears–Packers rivalry.

• Since then, media and fans have framed it as a “beef,” especially after some icy or very quick postgame handshakes between the two.

How LaFleur has responded

• LaFleur has consistently downplayed any personal issue, saying things like “I don’t know Ben Johnson” and that he respects him as a coach while insisting he doesn’t “have beef” and isn’t into drama.

• Asked again later (including on a podcast and in pressers), he mostly brushed off the topic with short answers, emphasizing that what matters is winning games, not talk.

Are they personally at odds?

• Reporters and insiders have noted that Johnson and LaFleur are “not pals” and have “no shared history,” which means there’s no long-standing friendship or mentorship that would soften the public trash talk.

• There is no solid public reporting of a specific behind-the-scenes incident or serious personal conflict; what is visible is competitive tension, some pointed quotes from Johnson, and LaFleur’s cool, minimal responses.

Why it looks like they don’t get along

• Johnson’s repeated jabs (introductory presser, later comments, and competitive framing of decisions like playing starters vs resting them) have been interpreted as him leaning into the rivalry and needling LaFleur.

• Cameras have captured “icy” or very brief handshakes and a notably awkward postgame interaction, which fans and social media amplify as evidence of animosity.

• Forum discussion and meme subreddits further exaggerate the narrative that they “aren’t close” or “don’t like each other,” feeding the perception even though much of it is speculation and fan-driven.

Bottom line

• Publicly: Johnson has thrown playful-to-pointed shade; LaFleur has stayed mostly above it, with curt answers and visible coolness.

• Privately: there is no confirmed reporting that they have a serious personal feud—what exists is competitive edge, divisional rivalry, and media/fan magnification of a few quotes and awkward moments.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.