The Detroit Lions will look to one-up their overachieving 2023 season, and they have a great chance of achieving that after keeping their most important personnel.
Among the key retentions to the squad is offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was widely believed to be leaving Ford Field after defying preseason expectations. His decision to stay put is a great boon for Dan Campbell’s Lions squad which is looking to make the Super Bowl.
Amon-Ra St. Brown reveals Johnson’s reasons for staying with the Detroit Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown, the top wide receiver for the Detroit Lions his season, was open about his conversation with his OC in the latest episode of the St. Brown Brothers podcast. He revealed that he shared a moment with his head coach before his decision became public knowledge.
As written by Detroit Sports Nation’s W.G. Brady, the All-Pro wideout revealed that Johnson felt it was wrong to leave the Lions behind when they were just a half away from making Super Bowl LVIII:
“He said he couldn’t sleep last night. He was thinking about it, and he said there’s unfinished business,” St. Brown said. “He wants to stay. He said the guys on the team, shoot. He said me, Jared (Goff), Frank (Ragnow), Penei (Sewell), (Taylor) Decker. All the guys. He said his heart is in Detroit, he wants to stay.”
The news that Johnson feels that the team could go even further than an NFC Championship should be great news for Lions fans. It was also evident in their loss against the San Francisco 49ers that crucial drops and a few defensive lapses were what stopped them from continuing their Cinderella run.
Moreover, Johnson’s bond with the team’s key pieces in the offense means that the synergy they’ve built throughout the season will compound into 2024. Fans can expect even more daring calls from Campbell, Johnson, and the rest of the Lions offense.
Amon-Ra St. Brown will be a key cog for the offense. His performance as the team’s primary target this season was critical to the team’s deep playoff campaign. He finished the 2023 season with 1515 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns that helped him get his first All-Pro nod.
Fans should expect the Detroit Lions to come out of the gates swinging once Johnson and the offense iron out their weak spots in training camp.