The 2024 Lions season had all the glitz of a Hollywood blockbuster—15–2 overall, an offense that put up 6,962 total yds (averaging 409.5 yds/g), and Jared Goff tossing 4,629 yds with 37 TDs on a career-best 72.4% comp rate with plays flying like quotes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but as with any epic tale, the plot thickened after a 31–45 playoff loss that left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong.

Behind the scenes, whispers echoed like lines from “Seinfeld” and “The Office”—hinting at locker-room drama and legendary critiques that would make even Vince Lombardi raise an eyebrow. Two narratives began to surface: one where a Detroit icon lobbed some tough love at Goff and the offense, and another where our QB questioned the timing of Ben Johnson’s move to the Bears. The air was electric, like waiting for the next Marvel post-credits scene, and the stage was set for a showdown of epic proportions.

Lions’ legend throws offense under the bus

In a moment that could easily have been scripted by Quentin Tarantino, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson—an icon who rewrote the NFL playbook with 731 recs 11,619 yds, and 83 TDs in his nine-season run (2007–2015)—was not holding back. “I’m excited about next year even though like you say uh it was tough to to take that L the other day you know we just weren’t in sync you know quarterback got hit early pretty good got rattled and uh you know we just weren’t a w weren’t able to recover especially with with turnover so um but still excited for this team and what we have going here in Detroit.”

He admitted in a laid-back, unfiltered style that reminded fans of Danny Tanner from Full House laying down life lessons over a slice of pizza. The loss in the playoffs hit hard, and Calvin’s words cut through the hype like a lightsaber through the dark. Even as the Lions boasted a high-flying offense—the kind that could rival Tony Stark’s suit in terms of innovation and flash—with Goff’s 4.6k yds, 12 INTs, and a stellar 111.8 passer rating, Calvin wasn’t shy about calling out the misfires.

His legacy is cemented not only in record-breaking seasons (like that insane 1,964-yard single-season feat in 2012) but also in his sheer presence, reminiscent of a “Scarface” monologue: raw, unfiltered, and impossible to ignore. The message was clear: the offensive machine, despite its flashy stats and high-scoring outputs (564 points over the season, averaging 33.2 pts/g), missed the mark when it mattered most.

Top Comment by The Dude abides

Yes absolutely, the offense was built with Jared Goffs input as well. Ben Johnson is a schemer by default and...more

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Calvin’s critique wasn’t just a grumble; it was laced with encouragement and a call to regroup. “You know hanging in there I would just say remember um back in 2008 um how long know that was we were 0 you know we’ve come to a place where we’re consistently making the playoffs over the last uh however many years um especially since Dan has been here so we just have to be patient you know the Super Bowl inline is going to happen all at once you know it’s great “

“The fact is that you know culture um and culture that we have here in Detroit you know that permeates obviously this team it permeates this city and you know I think that all that good energy is going to you know continue to help this team strive uh to to high places um do you feel like there may have been some um I guess distractions on and off the field with”—a flow of words that resonated with fans like a heartfelt soliloquy from *Rocky*. It was a rallying cry to reassemble the pieces and return stronger next season.

Even with these harsh words, the legacy of Megatron remains unchallenged. His storied career—six consecutive Pro Bowl nods, multiple NFL records (including 8 straight games with 100+ receiving yds, 11 100-yd games in a season, and that mind-blowing 329-yd game against the Cowboys)—serves as both inspiration and a benchmark. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 underscores that while his era on the field has passed, his voice still echoes in every Detroit huddle and sideline rant.

QB questions Ben Johnson’s move

On the flip side, Jared Goff—once the poster child for a rebuilding Detroit franchise and now a seasoned Pro Bowl signal-caller with a career tally of 35,058 yds, 222 TDs, and 94 INTs—has found himself musing over recent front-office moves. With Goff’s 2024 season being as epic as a season finale of Stranger Things—4.6k yds, 37 TDs, and a nifty 72.4% comp rate—he’s undoubtedly in his prime. Yet, with offensive wizard Ben Johnson heading off to coach the Bears, Goff now faces a new challenge: playing against the coach who once helped his offense flourish like the finest script in Pulp Fiction.

“He’s a hell of a coach,” Goff stated on SiriusXM NFL Radio at the Pro Bowl Games, echoing the kind of cool, offhand swagger you’d expect from a character in The Big Lebowski. “He’s a guy that’s made a ton of difference in my career. I’m obviously a big fan of his. I was joking with him — I wish he didn’t have to be in our division, so I didn’t have to try to beat him twice a year.” These words came out with the perfect blend of respect and competitive fire, hinting that while Goff admires Johnson’s genius, he’s not too thrilled about the extra-division rivalry.

Goff’s track record with Johnson was nothing short of legendary. Over the past three seasons, Goff posted a 68.1% comp rate for 13,642 yds, 96 TDs, and only 31 INTs—stats that would make even the most seasoned coach nod in approval like a scene out of Friday Night Lights. The Lions’ five wins in six games against the Bears during Johnson’s tenure as OC were a testament to that chemistry. Now, with Johnson’s departure, Goff is staring down the barrel of a new era under OC John Morton, someone he’s got history with from 2022.

Despite the looming challenge, Goff remains upbeat. “He’s going to do a great job. Hopefully not too good, though, with us being in the division together still. I’ll always be a fan of his and we’ll always have a good relationship,” he added, a statement as loaded as a classic Seinfeld zinger. It’s a delicate balance—appreciating the good times while bracing for the rivalry that lies ahead. With the Bears now in the mix, Goff’s task is to maintain his stellar form (remember his 111.8 passer rating and those clutch numbers from 2024) while navigating the fresh dynamics of intra-division drama.