Bears coach Ben Johnson is carrying his anti-Packer energy into offseason
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What are the latest reports from the Combine?
We have reports from the Combine all day today. Ray Diaz helping us out, of course. Our producer as well. He's our EP. Tyler is our sound producer. Does a wonderful job. Brandon Fryer helps us out, too. We do have to monitor that situation, just so you guys are aware. Tyson Bajent is popular, not just here, but with the rest of the league. This is the time when the business gets done at the Combine. So I wouldn't be surprised if something could happen. I'm not saying it will. I'm not saying it should. I'm saying it could happen where... The team is excited about about Tyson Bajet, knowing that relatively he's a quarterback bargain.
Why is Tyson Bajent gaining popularity in the league?
You know, he's got a relatively low cap it. And because of that, he is somebody who, especially with the glowing recommendation from Ben Johnson and his previous coaches, that's a heck of a reference portion of your resume. We never know. We could be ready for that. And I'm not trying to alarm people. This is not clickbait. I'm just based on if you were a head coach in the NFL or if you were one of the 10 new head coaches who just heard one of the best offensive minds in the league, once again, double, triple, whatever you want to call that down on Tyson Bajan, it's probably going to be worth your time.
I love that you mentioned double, triple, quadruple, down, whatever, because here's my question to you, Layla Johnson.
Demon down?
Listen, Layla, do you believe that Ben Johnson loves Tyson Bajent more than he hates Matt LaFleur?
Yes, I think he loves Tyson Bajet more than he hates Matt LaFleur. But it's a good question because Ben Johnson is still fired up about this. Ben Johnson has been successfully radicalized by George McCaskey or George McCaskey just knew that it was in him the whole time. I'm not quite sure which one it was. Chicken egg scenario?
See, I don't think it's chicken egg scenario. I think this is what happened. I think Ben Johnson interviewed with the Bears. He wanted the job. He told us so on his first ever Zoom interview with Ryan Poles and company. He got the job. And then once he got with George McCaskey, he was like, oh, you feel this strongly about the Packers? Guess what? So do I. And then he found a guy who aligned perfectly with him. Vice versa.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend because we already share a connection that we can sustain ourselves separately and together. Trauma bonding. I do believe in that. Or in this case, non-trauma bonding. The reason we bring this up is because as passionate and as... as intense as Ben Johnson spoke about Tyson Bajent, and frankly, emotionally as well when he mentioned stuff like heartstrings, listen to what Ben Johnson had to say to our friend Mike Florio, who joins us at 11 when he was asked about the Green Bay Packers.
You ever watch any Seinfeld growing up? Just a little bit. Okay. Why do you ask? Well, because I'm going to ask you a question the way Jerry Seinfeld would. What is the deal with the Packers? Who likes the Packers? How much of that is leaning fully into your job as Bears coach, and how much of it is how you truly feel?
Yeah, I mean, the Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other. I think it's as simple as that. And I think that's going to make this rivalry, this game, something that people are going to watch here going forward.
Have you talked to Matt LaFleur at all? Because I feel like he gets confused. Like, what did I do? Do you have any relationship with him? Have you heard from him? Has he called you up and he said, what's the deal? Anything like that? No, we don't talk. Okay. Do you want it that way? I'm good with it. Has he tried to reach out to you? No.
He wants no parts of Matt LaFleur or the Packers or anything related to any of those things.
Did you hear how the answers got shorter and shorter and shorter and shorter? Until it was just two letters.
And if you watch him on the video portion of this with Pro Football Talk and Mike Florio, you can see his expression. Steely is what I would describe it as. Is that fair?
How does Ben Johnson feel about the Packers rivalry?
Yes.
Steely Ben?
Yes. And for everybody who was just curious, Ben Johnson's no when he was talking about Beijing yesterday at the Combine was him coughing into his hand and laughing while he did it.
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Chapters
4 chaptersSpeakers
5 identifiedMore from Rahimi & Grote Show
Full Show — September 18, 2026
Bears are in a race to improve defense as they prepare to face Vikings (Hour 1)
Adam Hoge shares keys to Bears-Vikings matchup (Hour 2)
5 On It & Kevin Fishbain previews Bears-Vikings (Hour 3)
Ben Leber previews Bears-Vikings & we share our predictions (Hour 4)
Transition with Spiegel & Holmes