why does ben johnson hate matt lafleur

There is no clear public evidence that Ben Johnson genuinely “hates” Matt LaFleur, but there is a very visible, hyped‑up rivalry and some pointed comments that make it look that way to fans and forums.

What actually happened

• When Ben Johnson became Chicago Bears head coach in early 2025, he joked in his introductory press conference that he “kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” from his time with the Lions, while praising other coaches like Dan Campbell and Kevin O’Connell more warmly.

• Matt LaFleur later said he was surprised by the remark and that he and Johnson had no prior relationship or shared history, which made the jab feel out of the blue.

• Since then, every Bears–Packers matchup has been framed as part of an “ongoing beef,” especially when cameras caught their quick, somewhat awkward postgame handshakes and contrasting body language after games.

Why people say “he hates him”

Fans and media lean into the phrase “Ben Johnson hates Matt LaFleur” mostly because:

• Johnson’s press‑conference comments singled LaFleur out as someone he enjoyed beating, without any backstory of friendship to soften it.

• Reports have said the two coaches “are not pals” and have “no real connection,” which makes the trash talk feel more personal and less like friendly banter.

• Highlight clips of their very brief handshakes and tense expressions after games have gone around social media and Reddit, fueling the narrative that there is “no love lost” between them.

Is it real hatred or just rivalry?

Most of what is known publicly points to a heated professional rivalry, not confirmed personal hatred:

• LaFleur has publicly downplayed the drama, giving short, no‑nonsense answers and saying he’s focused on winning rather than responding to Johnson’s comments.

• Insiders have suggested Johnson’s remarks were at least partly meant to “stoke the rivalry” and add juice to Bears–Packers games, a classic NFC North storyline rather than an off‑field feud.

• There are no credible reports of personal incidents between them beyond the comments, game decisions, and how each handled end‑of‑season or rivalry situations.

How forums and trending discussion frame it

Online, especially in NFC North–focused communities, the situation is treated like spicy gossip:

• Meme and fan subs joke that Johnson has a standing “feud” with whoever coaches Green Bay and that his press‑conference jab was a deliberate shot at “the cheese” rather than just a playful aside.

• Discussion threads often exaggerate the tension, turning a mix of trash talk, rivalry hype, and competitive decisions (resting starters vs. “going all‑out”) into a narrative that Johnson really can’t stand LaFleur.

• Commenters also push back, pointing out that he is simply an opposing coach in a historic rivalry and doesn’t need a personal history with LaFleur to enjoy beating him on the field.

Bottom line

• Public information shows a sharp, sometimes petty‑seeming rivalry , fueled by Johnson’s comments and the historic Bears–Packers storyline.

• There is no solid evidence that Ben Johnson personally “hates” Matt LaFleur; the “hate” language mainly comes from fan and media dramatization of a competitive NFC North coaching matchup.

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