Sean McVay recently made a surprising statement about Ben Johnson, despite the two never having met. Their careers became intertwined due to major football decisions, starting with the 2021 quarterback trade between the Rams and Lions. McVay sought a change at quarterback, moving on from Jared Goff in favor of Matthew Stafford, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl win that season. Meanwhile, Goff aimed to revive his career in Detroit, and his fortunes changed when Johnson became the Lions’ offensive coordinator in 2022. Under Johnson’s guidance, Goff posted the best seasons of his career—statistically even surpassing his time with McVay.
Johnson’s success ultimately led to his hiring as the Chicago Bears’ head coach, and another connection between him and McVay formed when Chicago traded for veteran guard Jonah Jackson, who previously thrived under Johnson in Detroit.
When asked about the trade on Pardon My Take, McVay shifted the conversation to Johnson, offering high praise. Despite being regarded as one of the NFL’s top offensive minds with a photographic memory, McVay stated that Johnson is “way smarter” than him—a rare and significant compliment.
Many of today’s top offensive coaches, such as Matt LaFleur, Kevin O’Connell, and Zac Taylor, have direct ties to McVay. However, Johnson is one of the few to rise to prominence without his influence. Notably, Johnson also helped Goff reach new heights, with the quarterback posting a 102.7 passer rating over three seasons in Detroit compared to 94.1 during his Rams tenure. This challenges the idea that McVay represents the gold standard of offensive innovation in the NFL.