A New Rivalry Brewing? Goff vs. Johnson in 2025

The Detroit Lions already have plenty of motivation when they face the Chicago Bears next season. However, quarterback Jared Goff may have a little extra fire when he lines up against his former offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson.

At the NFL Combine, Johnson, now the Bears’ head coach, spoke highly of Caleb Williams, praising his athleticism and ability to make off-schedule plays. While he never directly mentioned Goff, some took his words as an indirect slight against the Lions’ quarterback.

Johnson’s Comments: Praise or Unintended Shade?

Johnson’s remarks about Williams’ mobility and playmaking ability raised some eyebrows. “To have an athlete like Caleb extend the play and potentially find an explosive down the field, that’s what gets me going a little bit,” Johnson said. “I get excited thinking about that because I haven’t really been around that since I’ve been in the league. I’ve been on the other side; it’s demoralizing.”

While Johnson likely meant no disrespect, his words implied he had not coached a quarterback with such abilities—something that Goff supporters found questionable.

Amon-Ra St. Brown: Goff Will Take It Personally

Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown addressed the situation on The St. Brown Podcast, where he and his brother, Equanimeous, debated whether Johnson’s comments were a slight toward Goff. While they had differing opinions, Amon-Ra had no doubts about how his quarterback would react.

“It’s just going to give Jared (Goff) that much more fire when we play the Bears,” he said. “Am I here for it? I’m here for it.”

Goff has long faced scrutiny, with much of his success attributed to either Johnson or former Rams head coach Sean McVay. Now, with Johnson gone, he has the perfect opportunity to prove he can thrive on his own.

A Statement Game on the Horizon

Whether Goff takes offense to Johnson’s comments or not, he will undoubtedly want to prove his worth when the Lions face the Bears. With Detroit continuing to build on its recent success, the upcoming matchup could mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the division’s growing rivalry.