The Detroit Lions are heading into what could be the most pivotal season since the 1950s with Coach Dan Campbell preaching about a Super Bowl appearance and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson back in town after turning down several potential head coaching suitors.
Recently, Johnson decided to clear the air on his decision to return to an assistant coaching role under Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes and the Lions.
The Johnson comments came amid prior comments from Johnson on a similar subject. The Lions' rookie most likely to make an impact on the team in Year One was also discussed.
According to Johnson, there was a period of time when Coach Campbell inspired him to come back, and that was when he knew exactly what he had to do last offseason.
Johnson recalls Campbell comments
Campbell's talented young Lions were outscored 27-7 in the second half against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game en route to a 34-31 loss.
Coach Johnson said that he remembered a comment from Coach Campbell that moved him in ways he never expected. Johnson's comments were shared in an article by NFL.com.
“You know, right after the championship game, I got on the plane and was just thinking about something coach (Dan Campbell) had said,” Johnson said to reporters. “So 2021 and (the early part of 2022), he had made this analogy to the team just about how we were sailing down the ocean, and at that moment we were in the Arctic.
“We were hitting the icebergs. We had the storms going on. Those were dark days, but he had the foresight, he had the vision of where we were going and where we were heading.”
Lions' 2023-2024 Offense, Revisited
Last season's Lions finished third in the NFL in total offense behind the 49ers and Dolphins with over 394 yards per game.
The Lions' Jared Goff became one of the most successful and recognizable quarterbacks in the game, proving doubters wrong along the way. For Jared Goff and the Lions to take the next step, they must shake off the disappointment of last season and get on board with Campbell's Super Bowl plans.
Goff should have help in the form of a maturing Jameson Williams at the wide receiver position and an improved defense led by rookie corners Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Terrion Arnold.
If Jared Goff can reprise his role as one of the NFC's best quarterbacks and Jameson Williams takes the next step, expect Johnson and the Lions' offense to be one of the league's best yet again, with the Super Bowl a distinct possibility.
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