Ben Johnson is sticking up for Packers coach Matt LaFleur

Ben Jonson had several jobs to choose from. He chose the Bears.

Not only do they have a quarterback to build around, but Johnson also noted that they are in a division he is familiar with. Johnson spent six seasons in the NFC North as an assistant under Dan Campbell.

“I know this is the toughest division in football right now,” Johnson said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “There are three teams that made the playoffs this year. I have the utmost respect for the coaches and players in this league who have competed against them for the last six years. Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell talk about the two guys who will be honored with coach of the year awards when the season ends here. And to be honest with you, I kind of enjoyed the beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”

Campbell, the Lions coach, and O’Connell, the Vikings coach, are the favorites for NFL Coach of the Year. LaFleur led the Packers to four double-digit win seasons in his six years as head coach, with two different quarterbacks.

The Lions have swept the Packers in two of the past three seasons, but were just 6-6 against Green Bay during Johnson’s time in Detroit.

Although the NFC North sent three teams to the playoffs this season, the Packers, Vikings and Lions went 0-3. It was only the second time since 1970 that the division sent three teams to the playoffs and was empty when they got there.