BREAKING: Former Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson Pushing Bears to Acquire His Favorite Player in Detroit – An Attractive Offer the Lions May Find Hard to Refuse

Posted May 21, 2026

Detroit, Michigan – Ben Johnson, the former standout offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, who is now leading the Chicago Bears, is reportedly aggressively pushing his new team to execute a trade to acquire Sam LaPorta — one of the players he values most highly from his time in Detroit.

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Johnson, the man who turned Sam LaPorta into one of the most dangerous tight ends in the NFL over the past two seasons, believes LaPorta is the perfect piece to elevate the Bears’ offense and provide maximum support for Caleb Williams.

Sam LaPorta, the Lions’ second-round selection (pick 34) in the 2023 NFL Draft, has quickly become an offensive star.

Even though he has only played three seasons, he has already recorded more than 180 receptions, more than 2,000 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns. LaPorta is renowned for his reliable hands, excellent blocking, and high football IQ.

The Lions are in the final year of LaPorta’s rookie contract (2026), with a cap hit of approximately $6.74 million. However, the Lions are expected to negotiate a large extension with him.

Nevertheless, with salary cap pressure and the need for draft picks to continue building the roster, Detroit may seriously consider an attractive offer from the Bears.

For the Bears, acquiring LaPorta would immediately provide an elite tight end to support Caleb Williams, creating an extremely dangerous offensive duo alongside DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.

Ben Johnson understands LaPorta’s abilities and playing style better than anyone, and he believes the tight end will become a long-term cornerstone in the Bears’ offensive system.

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Potential trade package: The Bears could send the Lions a first-round pick (2026 or 2027) along with a second-round or third-round pick and a depth player. This is considered a fair price for a talented young tight end like LaPorta.

Although trading Sam LaPorta is not the Lions’ top priority (especially since he is an important part of their long-term offensive plan), the abundant draft capital and the ability to free up cap space could make it difficult for the Lions to refuse — particularly if they want to add more draft selections to build around Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

As the 2026 offseason heats up, all eyes are on the potential negotiations between the Lions and Bears.

Acquiring Sam LaPorta would be a strong statement by Ben Johnson in his new role in Chicago, instantly upgrading the offense and increasing the Bears’ competitiveness in the NFC North.

This deal could significantly change both sides for years to come and promises to be one of the most attractive trades of the 2026 NFL offseason.

Lions Star Quietly Uses NFL Fortune to Pay Medical Bills for Struggling Families
For many NFL players, years of success are often measured through championships, contracts, and financial milestones. But for Jared Goff, money has reportedly become something much more personal than fame or football recognition. The current starting quarterback of the Detroit Lions has already earned nearly $180 million in career cash payments entering the 2026 season. Once his guaranteed 2026 earnings are fully processed, his total career cash income is expected to surpass $200 million. After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Goff joined the Detroit Lions in 2021 and quickly became the face of the franchise’s resurgence. In 2024, the Lions rewarded him with a massive four-year, $212 million contract extension. During the 2025 season alone, Goff reportedly received over $35 million in cash payments. Yet despite the enormous financial success, fans across social media recently became emotional over something completely unrelated to football or contracts. According to sources, Goff quietly revealed a deeply personal late-night habit that few people around him previously knew existed. The Lions quarterback reportedly spends nights browsing GoFundMe searching for families drowning in medical debt and financial hardship. Instead of donating publicly for praise or recognition, Goff reportedly chooses to quietly pay hospital bills for random struggling families across the country. “What I really love to do is go on GoFundMe at night and just pay random families’ medical bills,” Goff reportedly shared. He reportedly made clear that he never wants publicity attached to those moments. No cameras. No interviews. No social media announcements. Just anonymous help delivered during some of the darkest moments in another family’s life. For many Lions fans, the revelation quickly became one of the most emotional off-field stories connected to the franchise this offseason. Across the NFL, countless fans praised Goff not simply for his generosity, but for the quiet and deeply human way he reportedly chooses to help strangers. People close to the situation reportedly believe Goff no longer views money as fame, status, or personal validation. Instead, they believe the Lions star sees financial success as an opportunity to restore hope for families experiencing fear, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion. And in a sports world often dominated by contracts and celebrity attention, Jared Goff’s quiet nightly routine may have revealed something even more meaningful than football success itself.

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