Well, we all saw it on Sunday. The now-viral moment between Bears head coach Ben Johnson and CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala started off awkward, with Johnson unable to hear her at first. But it quickly turned into a strange exchange fueled by miscommunication—one that Johnson later admitted he regrets.
On Monday, Johnson addressed the situation but you can see the full exchange in the video below:
“I am a little disappointed with how that looks. I didn’t hear very well, but that’s not an excuse. What was a question, I took as being told I needed to change things, which I didn’t take too well. I have to be better with those going forward.”
Johnson is taking the high road, even as opinions remain split on the moment—including from former legendary head coach Jon Gruden, who actually praised Johnson’s restraint.
“For Ben Johnson not to take that microphone and slam it on the ground, it’s a real credit to him.”
In the end, Johnson vowed to be better moving forward, showing he’s not dwelling on the incident. This moment really raises the question of whether interviewing head coaches live is worthwhile, as it can be challenging for both the coach and the reporter.
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