Following his first game of the 2025 season, former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff drew plenty of criticism. Goff rejected the criticism, and one of his former coaches offered comments that underscore his stance.
Goff will face that coach in Week 2.
His Detroit Lions are hosting their NFC North rival, the Chicago Bears. The Bears’ head coach, Ben Johnson, was Goff’s offensive coordinator for the last three seasons.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Sends Clear Message About Jared Goff
GettyDetroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Jared Goff #16 speak on the field before a game against the Green Bay Packers.
Goff completed 79.5% of his passes for 225 yards in the Lions’ 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, but the former Rams top pick did so on 39 attempts. He also came away with 1 touchdown pass and 1 interception.
Johnson expects Goff to be the same as he has always been on Sunday: “Resilient.”
“I just know he’s a very resilient individual, one of the most that I’ve been around in the NFL,” Johnson told reporters on September 12. “He’s been to the top, he’s been to the bottom, and he certainly finds a way each week to come back and swing away. So, I know we’ll get the best version to compete against here this week.”
Goff has downplayed the concerns over his play or the Lions’ change in offensive schemes. He did note that there is an adjustment period.
Goff went to two Pro Bowls with Johnson as his head coach. Moreover, he has been one of the most prolific passers over the past three seasons. Goff’s current plight certainly puts the resilience Johnson spoke so highly of to the test.
Jared Goff Called ‘Most Interesting Man’ in NFL Week 2
GettyJared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions looks on before a game against the Green Bay Packers.
Goff’s struggles in Week 1 prompted a slew of reactions, including NFL Network’s Peter Schrager calling the four-time Pro Bowler the “most interesting man” in the league entering the second week of the 2025 regular season.
Schrager pointed to Goff being a former No. 1 overall pick (2016), reaching a Super Bowl with the Rams, calling the 10-year veteran a “made man,” noting that was “on paper.”
Losing Johnson as his play-caller is a big reason for the intrigue around Goff this season.
Goff’s record without Johnson and Rams head coach Sean McVay (3-18-1) made it to ESPN’s flagship social media handle after Schrager mentioned it during the segment.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell also expressed sentiments about Goff’s turnovers before the season that were very similar to what McVay said shortly before the Rams traded the QB to Detroit.
Jared Goff Gets Bad News Ahead of Bears Game
GettyJaylon Johnson #1 of the Chicago Bears looks on before a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Goff will not get much of a reprieve in Week 2, where the former Rams star will face a Bears defense that played its part in their letdown in Week 1, and that will get cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker T.J. Edwards back in the lineup.
Johnson is a two-time Pro Bowler and was a Second Team All-Pro in 2023. Edwards is one of the more instinctive and better-tackling players at his position.
Goff is 7-4 with a 2,488-18-10 line on 64.7% competition against the Bears in his career.
Goff and the Lions will visit the Rams in LA in Week 15. It is a matchup he will surely be fired up for when it comes. He may have completely flipped the narrative on himself and new OC John Morton, who arrived from the Denver Broncos, by that point in the season.
Still, if any group is equipped to handle Goff, it is the Rams. They still have McVay and the kind of defense, specifically their pass rush, that could make his life miserable.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ex-Rams QB Jared Goff Gets Fitting Endorsement From Former Coach appeared first on Heavy Sports.