The Detroit Lions were pleasantly surprised when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson decided to forego head coaching opportunities and return to his current post. His message to at least one Lions star is clear.
In his weekly “St. Brown Brothers” podcast, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown stated that he spoke with Johnson on Tuesday, before the offensive coordinator publicly confirmed his return. Johnson informed St. Brown that he intended to stay and believed he had “unfinished work” in Detroit.”I’m like, ‘So what’s going on with you?
However, as Spielberger pointed out, the Lions have several of their own players set to be extended before the end of 2024, including Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, and Alim McNeill. Looking ahead, the Lions will also need to open the wallet for Aidan Hutchinson.
So, even with so much budget space, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes might look for a low-cost No. 3 wide receiver behind St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
You did an interview; are you leaving?'” St. Brown stated, as translated by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “He says, ‘You know what? I’m on my way to the facility right now.'” He claimed he couldn’t sleep last night. He was thinking about it and stated, “There is unfinished business.” He prefers to stay. He stated that his heart belongs in Detroit and that he wishes to remain there. So he told me this on his way to the facility.”
Johnson might have felt differently if the Lions had lost the NFC Championship in a different way, but they squandered a 24-7 halftime lead against San Francisco. Perhaps that contributed to Johnson’s inability to step away now.
According to certain rumors, Johnson did not acquire a head coaching post due to financial concerns. Perhaps the “unfinished business” language is a manner of spinning it, but Lions fans will accept that as the rationale regardless.
Aside from the quarterbacks picked in the first round in 2018, Patriots 7th-round pick Danny Etling was a practice squad player during the team’s Super Bowl victory, albeit he did not provide any stats throughout the season. In 2021, undrafted quarterback John Wolford won a Super Bowl with the Rams as Matthew Stafford’s backup.
The 2018 draft produced one MVP in Lamar Jackson and possibly a second in Josh Allen, but it’s Darnold, a backup, who makes the Super Bowl before both of them.
