The Detroit Lions were right there, knocking on the door of something special — then boom, season over. As if that heartbreak wasn’t enough, the coaching staff is dipping left and right, with Ben Johnson leading the exodus.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s has feelings about it — losing key coaches right after a gut-wrenching playoff exit has been brutal.
Amon-Ra St. Brown on Coaching Losses, Playoff Pain, and Fixing the NFL Playoffs
Detroit’s star wide receiver reacted to the departures of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, tight ends coach Steve Heiden, and his own position coach Antwaan Randle El, who followed Johnson to the Chicago Bears.
Speaking on the “St. Brown Podcast,” he acknowledged the changes but kept his confidence high, “We’ll be all right, though. Players make plays, right?”
That’s the mindset the Lions will need after a disheartening early playoff exit at the hands of the Washington Commanders. Losing key coaches is the price of success, and the Lions are paying it.
Heiden is now coaching the New York Jets’ offensive line, while Randle El gets a shot to climb the coaching ranks with the Bears. St. Brown, however, sees the bigger picture — teams evolve, but talent wins games.
And he’s got plenty of that.
St. Brown just secured a four-year, $120 million contract extension (April 2024), locking him in through 2028.
His production backs it up. Week 4: He threw a trick-play TD to Jared Goff against Seattle. Week 11: He torched the Jacksonville Jaguars with 11 catches for 161 yards and two scores (Lions rolled 52-6). And in a tough Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, he still dominated — 14 receptions, 193 yards, and a TD.
The Lions are losing brilliant minds, but St. Brown believes it won’t slow them down. In 2025, they’ll put that to the test.
St. Brown’s Calm Amid Coaching Shakeups: Lions Are Built To Adapt
Despite the shakeup, Detroit’s top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown isn’t sweating it. On his St. Brown Podcast, he made it clear — players make plays.
St. Brown’s approach is simple. It’s not all about the playbook, it’s about the dudes out there making it happen. And with the squad the Lions have, he’s betting they’ll be just fine, no matter who’s running the show.
As Detroit heads into 2025, they’ll put this belief to the test. With St. Brown leading the charge, the team’s readiness to adapt could make all the difference.