Former Offensive Coordinator of Bears, Ben Johnson, Pushes for Trade to Acquire His Favorite Player from Detroit Lions

Chicago, Illinois – February 2026

Ben Johnson, the former offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions and current head coach of the Chicago Bears, is pushing for a trade to acquire one of his favorite players, David Montgomery, to strengthen the Bears’ offense. This move comes as Johnson looks to bolster his new team’s attack, which has been a key priority since taking over as head coach in January 2025.

Johnson, who previously coached Montgomery at Detroit from 2022 to 2024, has always held the running back in high regard. Montgomery played a pivotal role in Johnson’s high-powered offensive schemes, and Johnson has openly praised him for his skills and work ethic. “He’s a genius, he taught me a lot of new things,” Montgomery said in 2023 about Johnson, while also calling him a “perfectionist” who worked tirelessly to help the team succeed.

Under Johnson’s guidance, Montgomery had a breakout 2023 season, rushing for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns—both career highs—largely thanks to Johnson’s balanced run-pass scheme. Even in 2024, despite sharing the backfield with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery still posted impressive numbers with 775 yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson’s system made Montgomery a key part of the Lions’ top-5 offense.

Now, as Johnson shifts to his new role in Chicago, he’s keen on bringing Montgomery along to continue their successful partnership. Johnson sees Montgomery as an ideal fit for his offensive system and has made it clear he wants to bring him to Chicago. “He’s a player I’ve coached and developed at Detroit, and he possesses all the qualities we need at the Bears. He’s the missing piece for our offense.”

The Bears, who are in the process of rebuilding their offense around quarterback Caleb Williams, are looking to add another reliable running back. Montgomery’s physical running style and versatility would be a perfect complement to Fields’ dynamic skill set, especially in Johnson’s offense, which values a strong, balanced attack.

While the trade would involve a significant move, it makes sense from both a football and personal perspective. Montgomery and Johnson have a strong professional bond, and bringing Montgomery to Chicago would immediately upgrade the Bears’ rushing attack.

The Lions, however, may be hesitant to part with Montgomery, especially after his strong contributions in the previous seasons. Still, with the financial constraints they are facing, including recent deals for Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, the trade could free up valuable cap space.

Reports suggest that a potential trade package could include a second-round pick (around #50 overall) and potentially a later pick, making it a reasonable offer for the Lions, especially with Montgomery entering the final year of his contract in 2026.

For the Bears, acquiring Montgomery would provide them with a proven running back to pair with Fields, adding a crucial piece to their offensive puzzle as they aim to make a deeper playoff run.

While no official discussions have been confirmed, the growing speculation around Montgomery’s potential move to Chicago has fans excited. If the trade goes through, it could be one of the most significant offseason moves for the Bears as they look to build a contender in the NFC.