When the Detroit Lions signed running back David Montgomery in 2023 free agency, they were plenty familiar with him from having spent the first four seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears. That truly made it clear he'd be a fit in Detroit, and a perfect pivot when it contract negotiations with Jamaal Williams stalled.
After signing with the Lions, Montgomery talked about the idea of playing more in prime time games and generally joining a winning culture. He took an unveiled shot at the Bears, who had a 25-41 record during his time there. He said losing was "all I was used to" and....
"It got to a point where it really sucked the fun out of the game for me, because I’m a competitor," Montgomery said. "I like to compete, that’s what football’s about. But it’s so refreshing to be in a place where that’s appreciated and that’s what you get to do."
So playing for the Bears, as it might (especially when you're averaging 10 losses a season), sucked the joy out of playing football for Montgomery. It also appears they had little or no interest in re-signing him.
David Montgomery has perfect response to Ben Johnson leaving the Lions for the Bears
Of course (now-former) Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is making a career move in the opposite direction Montgomery did, to become the new head coach of the Bears.
With the news Johnson is taking the Bears head coaching job, Lions fans are mad that he went to a division rival and his first words upon arriving in Chicago will only stoke that fire. As if he shouldn't be excited about a new job that's also giving him a big pay raise.
Montgomery channeled the fans feelings about the Johnson news in a perfectly humorous way with what he posted on his Instagram page.
The original image came from when Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs crashed a media session at Jared Goff's locker a few weeks ago. Goff was asked his favorite thing about Montgomery, and Montgomery's expression is in anticipation of his quarterback's answer to the question. What appears to be Johnson's photo from the coaching staff page on the Lions' official website was simply photoshopped over Goff to create the post.
Montgomery is surely disappointed to be losing Johnson. But instead of getting angry about it, he played it for humor on social media as if to say "Really, dude?"
