Shortly after the top-seeded Detroit Lions suffered an upset 45-31 divisional-round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders this previous Saturday, Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson formally agreed to change into the following head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Johnson emerged as a scorching head-coaching candidate primarily due to his work with Jared Goff, who has change into a top-tier beginning quarterback with Detroit. Throughout his end-of-season media availability, Lions common supervisor Brad Holmes made a daring declare relating to how the 30-year-old signal-caller will reply to Johnson’s departure.
“I believe the man’s in his prime,” Holmes stated about Goff, ESPN’s Eric Woodyard shared. “He is gotten higher and higher yearly. And after I say prime, I believe like simply getting into it. It is as a result of he retains ascending. I believe like each single 12 months we have been right here, the following 12 months, it is been ‘man, he is enjoying at a excessive degree.’ And the degrees maintain bettering. Once more, I simply have numerous religion in [head coach] Dan [Campbell] and I do know that he’ll be sure that Jared’s gonna be in a very good place.”
Some questioned again on Oct. 30, 2022, if Goff was on the verge of starting the ultimate couple of months of his Detroit tenure. Since then, he and the Lions have gone 35-9 in regular-season play, and he helped Detroit attain the NFC Championship Recreation final January. Honestly, Goff probably would’ve began for the Lions in Tremendous Bowl LVIII if not for some questionable selections made by the beforehand talked about Campbell throughout what grew to become a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
On Thursday, Goff was named a finalist for the Related Press 2024 NFL Most Priceless Participant Award after he guided Detroit to a 15-2 regular-season document. Per Professional Soccer Reference, he ended Week 18 ranked second within the NFL amongst certified gamers with a 111.8 passer ranking, sixth with a 68.4 adjusted QBR, second with 4,629 passing yards and fourth with 37 passing touchdowns. Regardless of these numbers, Goff could end final in MVP voting.
Final offseason, Goff signed a four-year contract extension that included a $170M assured and could possibly be price as much as $212M.
“I do assume that we’re very shut,” Holmes added. “Clearly, I believed we have been very shut this 12 months, however nothing’s gonna kinda alter what our method has been when it comes to making an attempt to proceed to enhance and maintain constructing. Clearly, I do assume we’re very shut and I felt actually good about this season however fell brief however we’re gonna keep dedicated and keep dedicated to the method.”
As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Lions fifth among the many betting favorites at +900 odds to win Tremendous Bowl LX in February 2026.
