Jared Goff reached new heights as a quarterback under Ben Johnson as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator. However, Johnson, now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, dropped a surprising bombshell during the NFL Combine, claiming another Lions star “was throwing a better football” than Goff.
This revelation came while Johnson appeared on NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk on Thursday. The former Lions offensive coordinator admitted that Pro Bowl left tackle Penei Sewell was impressively accurate while throwing passes.
“The best part of that was he threw a dime every single time. He was better than some other people,” Johnson said, before taking a subtle jab at Goff. “He was pretty darn good throwing on the move.” It seems Johnson might have missed a chance to put Sewell in passing situations behind center, but according to him, the 335-pound tackle threw a sharper pass than Goff.
This revelation about Sewell could serve as potential “bulletin board” material for Goff and the Lions, but it’s clear Johnson aimed more of his shade at Goff. During his first NFL Combine appearance as a head coach, Johnson reflected on his excitement about working with another top overall pick in Caleb Williams for the rival Bears.
“I get excited thinking about that (working with Williams) because I haven’t really been around that since I’ve been in the league,” Johnson shared. While many see this as praise for Williams, others believe it’s a subtle shot at his former QB in Detroit. Regardless, Johnson’s comments have added another layer of drama to the Bears/Lions rivalry, making the 2025 season matchup even more intriguing.