Lions GM doesn't think Goff's play will decline after OC's exit
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes doesn't expect Jared Goff's play to fall off after the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. In fact, he thinks the signal-caller is only just entering the peak period of his career.
"Obviously, he was very productive with Ben as a coordinator, but he had a lot of prior success before he even got here in a completely different system," Holmes said Thursday. "I think he's a better quarterback, a more mature quarterback now than he was then when he had early success. So, I don't foresee that. I think the guy's in his prime. He's gotten better and better every year. And when I say prime, I think just entering it, because he keeps ascending."
Goff spent the past three seasons working under Johnson, who accepted the Chicago Bears' head coaching job earlier this week. During that three-year span, Goff never threw for less than 4,400 yards or 29 touchdowns.
He had the best season of his NFL career in 2024, establishing personal bests in completion percentage (72.4%), touchdown passes (37), and quarterback rating (111.8). Goff, who went to Super Bowl LIII with the Los Angeles Rams, was named a finalist for NFL MVP on Wednesday.
"The levels keep improving," Holmes said of Goff. "Again, I just have a lot of faith in (head coach) Dan (Campbell), and I know that he'll make sure that Jared's going to be in a good position."
Johnson isn't the only Lions coordinator who was recently poached; defensive boss Aaron Glenn is taking over the New York Jets' head coaching role. Holmes emphasized that the Lions were prepared for turnover on their staff.
"I know Dan has been preparing for it, and I have the full faith and trust in Dan to make sure we're going to have the right people in place in those spots, and he's had to encounter that before," Holmes said. "Not at the coordinator level, but other position coaches, and it's always worked out, so it'll be good."
The Lions have a combined record of 27-7 over the past two seasons but have been unable to reach the Super Bowl, falling in the NFC title game last year and suffering a one-and-done exit in the divisional round to the Washington Commanders this year.