Ben Johnson-Matt LaFleur beef, explained: Why Packers and Bears head coaches shared tense handshake after NFC wild card game

David Suggs

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Ben Johnson-Matt LaFleur beef, explained: Why Packers and Bears head coaches shared tense handshake after NFC wild card game image

Much like players, NFL coaches are bonded by circumstance.

The league's best play-callers tend to share professional relationships with one another, developing a sense of camaraderie beneath the steady hum of film study, media obligations and social media scrutiny. Coaching trees ensure that even the sport's most distant connections can find a way to succeed under the spotlight

However, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Bears head coach Ben Johnson are part of the old school. While some are embracing the bond between their fellow play-callesr, LaFleur and Johnson are cut from a different cloth, a time when coaches -- much like players -- opted against forming close friendships within their competitors.

Things appeared to come to a head on Saturday night following the conclusion of Chicago's 31-27 win over Green Bay in the wild-card round. LaFleur and Johnson locked horns briefly as bodies spilled onto the field. The incident proceeded to spark discussion on social media.

Here's what you need to know about LaFleur and Johnson's postgame handshake, as well as their relationship over the years.

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Matt LaFleur-Ben Johnson handshake

LaFleur and Johnson briefly embraced following Saturday's contest, meeting in the middle of the field with vastly different facial expressions. Johnson was delighted, relishing in a Chicago's hard-fought win amid a swell of crowd noise. LaFleur, meanwhile, looked underwhelmed, felled by an epic Green Bay collapse that he contributed to.

All that amounted to a frigid interaction at midfield between the two, who shared a quick handshake before jetting to opposite sides of the field. The incident caught the attention of onlookers' for a time, with Amazon's broadcast crew highlighting just how awkward the moment was.

Suffice to say, it proved to be a memorable moment in a game full of them on Saturday night.

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Are Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson friends?

Many NFL coaches are friends around the league, having bonded over the stress and turmoil that comes with leading a 53-man roster year-after-year. LaFleur and Johnson do not appear to have gotten the message, though. The two are not believed to be friends, with NFL Network's Peter Schrager reporting that the duo have no real connection to one another. Their relationship -- or lack thereof -- took center stage during Johnson's introductory press conference after the Bears named him head coach in Jan. 2025.

Johnson called LaFleur out by name, telling reporters he "enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year."

The comment came as a surprise to many. Schrager suggested Johnson's remark served as a way to drum up the Bears-Packers rivalry, which has proven to be one of the league's most intense over the years.

LaFleur didn't appear to take to kindly to Johnson's call-out. Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported that LaFleur was "shocked" by Johnson's comment.  The Green Bay head coach confirmed he had no prior relationship with Johnson before his comments were publicized.

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Whether Johnson's comments were enough to justify the cold embrace is anyone's guess. But it seems no love is lost between Bears and Packers' play-callers. Assuming they both stay in their posts, that's unlikely to change any time, either.

What did Ben Johnson say about Matt LaFleur?

Johnson took a not-so-veiled dig at LaFleur during his introductory press conference last January, telling reporters he got special satisfaction out of beating LaFleur twice a season during his time with the Lions. The messaging stood in stark contrast to the praise Johnson offered Dan Campbell and Kevin O'Connell, both of whom share overlapping history with the Chicago boss.

Some believed Johnson's quip was a reflection of a close-knit relationship between him and LaFleur. They were soon presented with evidence that suggested otherwise. Nevertheless, their tension doesn't appear to have subsided, instead coming to the surface during any of their high-profile matchups. The contests rarely prove to be uncompetitive, instead serving as another platform to mimic their spat.

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