The Detroit Lions are set for a big shake-up in their coaching staff by 2025, and while most players are currently on break, the speculation and anticipation are palpable. With the offseason workouts yet to begin, opinions from the players are expected to trickle in once they return—unless, of course, someone decides to spill the beans on a podcast.
Quarterback Jared Goff, however, has already broken the silence. While attending the Pro Bowl festivities in Florida, he spoke with the SiriusXM NFL crew, sharing his initial thoughts on the recent changes.
Goff had built a strong rapport with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, making the recent turn of events bittersweet. Johnson has moved within the division to take on the head coach role for the Chicago Bears, a move that perhaps causes a mix of admiration and rivalry.
“He’s a hell of a coach. He’s a guy that’s made a ton of difference in my career,” Goff reflected.
“I’m obviously a big fan of his. I was joking with him.
I wish he didn’t have to be in our division so I didn’t have to try to beat him twice a year, but, no, he’s going to do a great job. Hopefully, not too good, though, with us being in the division together.
But, I’ll always be a fan of his, and we’ll always have a good relationship.”
As for the Lions’ new offensive coordinator, John Morton, Goff isn’t stepping into the unknown. Morton brings a familiar face back to the forefront, having worked as the Lions’ senior offensive assistant back in 2022 when Johnson began his tenure. While Goff didn’t delve deeply into details, his confidence in Morton is apparent.
“We were together in 2022, he was an assistant on our staff, and has done it before,” Goff remarked. “He’s been a coordinator before, has a lot of experience in our league, been around a lot of great coaches. I’m excited to work with him and see where we can go.”
While we await to hear officially from Detroit’s newly assembled coaching staff, tradition suggests they’ll be in the spotlight during the NFL Combine, slated from February 27 to March 2. Lions fans and players alike will be on the edge of their seats, eager to see how these changes will impact their team’s journey in the seasons to come.