why does ben johnson hate the packers coach

Ben Johnson doesn’t appear to hate Packers coach Matt LaFleur personally, but there is a clear, heated rivalry built around a few specific moments and quotes.

The core of the “beef”

• When Ben Johnson became Chicago Bears head coach in January 2025, he joked in his introductory press conference that he “enjoyed” beating Matt LaFleur twice a year back when he was offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

• That line was taken as a shot at LaFleur in Green Bay circles and immediately became bulletin‑board material for the Packers’ staff and fans.

• LaFleur later said he didn’t really know Johnson personally and seemed surprised that his name came up like that, which added to the awkwardness.

Why it feels like “hate”

• Johnson’s public jab played straight into the long‑running Bears–Packers and NFC North rivalry, so every meeting since has been framed as personal, even if it’s mostly competitive trash talk.

• Packers assistants have openly said they took Johnson’s remark “personally,” which has been amplified by fan media and YouTube breakdowns as “disrespect” toward LaFleur.

• A recent cold or tense postgame handshake after a Bears win over the Packers reinforced the narrative that there’s no real warmth between the two, even if both publicly downplay any true animosity.

Is it real hatred or just rivalry?

• Reporting around the league has consistently said the two coaches don’t have a relationship and aren’t friends, but there’s no evidence of deep personal hatred beyond Johnson’s competitive digs and LaFleur’s annoyance.

• Most coverage frames it as a modern extension of the classic Bears–Packers feud: two play‑caller head coaches, a spicy quote, a frosty handshake, and fan/media hype turning it into a “beef” rather than a documented personal grudge.

Bottom line: Ben Johnson doesn’t like losing to Matt LaFleur and clearly enjoys tweaking him in public, but what fans describe as “hate” is better understood as a very competitive, media‑inflamed divisional rivalry.

TL;DR: The answer to “why does Ben Johnson hate the Packers coach?” is: he probably doesn’t hate him, but his past quote about loving to beat LaFleur, plus tense handshakes and divisional stakes, make the rivalry look deeply personal.

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