In the days leading up to Sunday’s NFC Divisional clash between the Bears and Rams, the spotlight wasn’t just on the players-it was on the coaches, too. What started as a simmering handshake saga between Chicago’s Ben Johnson and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur spilled over into the next round, with Rams head coach Sean McVay caught in the crossfire. And while the Rams ultimately edged out the Bears in a 20-17 overtime thriller, the postgame conversation was just as much about sideline tension as it was about X’s and O’s.
Let’s unpack how a few seconds of postgame interaction turned into one of the most talked-about subplots of the playoffs.
Johnson vs. LaFleur: A Handshake Rivalry Takes Shape
This all began long before Chicago’s playoff run. When Ben Johnson took over as the Bears’ head coach last January, he wasted no time stirring the pot.
During his introductory press conference, he made a pointed remark about having enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year while in Detroit. That comment didn’t sit well in Green Bay-and it set the tone for what became a season-long tension between the two NFC North coaches.
Fast forward to Week 14 of the regular season. The Packers beat the Bears 28-21, and LaFleur kept it short and cold in the postgame handshake. No smiles, no small talk-just a quick slap of the hands and a parting line: “We’ll see them again in two weeks.”
And they did. This time, the Bears flipped the script, rallying late to win in overtime.
The handshake? More cordial, but still stiff.
Eye contact was made, but you could tell the tension hadn’t gone anywhere.
Then came the wild-card round. The Bears knocked the Packers out of the playoffs with another late-game comeback.
Johnson’s postgame interaction with LaFleur was the most dramatic yet-he zipped past him with a low, almost crouched handshake and didn’t break stride on his way to the celebration. LaFleur’s reaction?
Less than thrilled.
Enter Sean McVay: A Coaching Tree Connection
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur aren’t just peers-they’re longtime friends and coaching tree brothers.
LaFleur was McVay’s offensive coordinator back in 2017, and both trace their roots to the Mike Shanahan coaching lineage. To add another layer, LaFleur’s brother, Mike, is currently McVay’s offensive coordinator with the Rams.
So when Johnson’s icy interactions with LaFleur made headlines, you better believe it didn’t go unnoticed in L.A. In fact, according to reports leading into the Rams-Bears matchup, Johnson’s behavior “did not go over well” with members of the McVay coaching tree-or around the league.
McVay, when asked if he’d been in touch with LaFleur to get an edge on Johnson, played it cool. “What would you guess?”
he said with a laugh. “No, you know what-we watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine.”
Translation? He wasn’t going to fan the flames publicly, but the bond between the two coaches was clear.
The McVay-Johnson Handshake: What We Saw (and Didn’t See)
So after all the buildup, what happened when Johnson and McVay met at midfield following the Rams’ overtime win?
NBC’s broadcast left fans hanging. The network didn’t show the handshake live-or at least not clearly enough for viewers to see it unfold. That led to a flurry of reactions on social media, with fans and media alike frustrated that the moment slipped through the cracks.
Eventually, other camera angles surfaced, including a clip released by the NFL’s social media team. And the verdict?
No fireworks. The handshake between Johnson and McVay was calm, respectful, and-dare we say-uneventful.
A brief conversation, a firm shake, and that was that.
So for all the tension and speculation, it seems McVay and Johnson kept things professional when it mattered most.
What It All Means Moving Forward
This postseason subplot may not have ended with a dramatic confrontation, but it gave us a glimpse into the competitive fire that burns behind the scenes. Johnson, still early in his tenure with the Bears, has already made waves-not just with his team’s performance, but with his personality and presence on the sidelines.
And while the handshake drama might fade, the relationships between these coaches-LaFleur, McVay, and Johnson-will continue to shape matchups for years to come. The NFL coaching world is a tight-knit, interconnected web, and every interaction matters.
For now, McVay moves on to the NFC Championship, while Johnson heads into the offseason with a promising foundation in Chicago-and a reputation for not backing down, even in the smallest of moments.