The Detroit Lions’ start to 2025 has been tough, with the team facing disappointment after disappointment, from their early playoff exit to the loss of their star offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson.

After the Lions’ playoff heartbreak and coaching shake-up, quarterback Jared Goff shared a gracious message for Johnson following his move to become the Chicago Bears’ head coach.

Under Johnson’s leadership, Goff helped the Lions finish in the top five for total yards per game in the past three seasons and posted one of his best seasons yet with 37 touchdowns and 4,629 passing yards.

The future may not be as smooth for Goff and the Lions’ high-powered offense, but the quarterback expressed nothing but admiration for Johnson as he moves on to the next phase of his coaching career.

“He’s a hell of a coach. He’s had a huge impact on my career,” Goff said in a SiriusXM interview at the Pro Bowl. “I’m definitely a big fan of his. I joked with him, I wish he wasn’t in our division so I didn’t have to face him twice a year. But he’ll do a great job. Hopefully not too great, since we’re still in the same division. I’ll always support him, and we’ll keep a great relationship.

The Lions’ Super Bowl aspirations ended painfully in the divisional round, where they fell 45-31 in a high-scoring battle against the Washington Commanders. Following Johnson’s departure, Detroit hired former Denver Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton as the new offensive coordinator, a familiar face after he spent time with the Lions in 2022.

Looking ahead to an uncertain future, Goff hopes that he and the Lions can push forward next season, even without his trusted offensive coordinator by his side.