After earning a passer rating last season of 111.8, Detroit Lions MVP-caliber quarterback Jared Goff enters the 2025 season ranked the number 14 ESPN Fantasy QB and number 15 according to PFF.com. But Goff and Lions’ OC John Morton could silence his critics.
Jared Goff Can Finally Silence His Critics With John Morton’s Help
A year ago, Goff led the Lions to an NFL-best 15-2 record, passing for 4,629 yards with 37 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Detroit was the NFL’s highest scoring offense last year, recording 33.2 points per game. Last year’s superior performance wasn’t a fluke. It was the Lion’s third consecutive season leading the league in scoring. Goff’s two-year average 84.8 passer rating was the NFL’s seventh-best. During that period, he was atop the NFL leaderboard with the most passing yards per game with an impressive 270.7 yards and second in the NFL with the most passing points per game at 18.
Goff was named the Offensive MVP in last year’s Pro Bowl, and he won the Precision Passing competition, beating runner-up Joe Burrow. Yet, despite all of his accomplishments, Goff still isn’t among the NFL’s top-tier quarterbacks.
Goff, More Than A Systemic Quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams
Skeptics point to the fact that Goff benefited from a system-friendly offense and attribute his success to Ben Johnson and his former L.A. Rams coach, Sean McVay’s offensive schemes. But it would be a glaring misconception to dismiss Goff’s dynamic production only as the result of a quarterback-friendly offense.
When designing an offense, a good coach takes into account his quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses. But it’s up to the quarterback to perform and execute those plays. Goff has consistently performed at an elite level, showcasing his precise ability to translate the coach’s playbook to the field.
Goff, One of The Best Quarterbacks in the League
Furthermore, when playing against the best quarterbacks in the league, Goff matches them touchdown for touchdown. Last year, when the Lions played Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, Goff delivered a 494-yard, five-touchdown performance with no interceptions. Every time Allen marched the Bills up the field to score, Goff responded with an answering touchdown. Although the Lions lost that game 48-42, that loss can be attributed to a breakdown by the defense rather than Goff’s premier production.
In 2023, Goff won games against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams as well as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Although the team lost to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens that season, the Lions beat the Rams again the following year.
What John Morton Brings To Lions As Offensive Coordinator
Morton was hired by the Lions as a Senior Offensive Assistant under Dan Campbell in 2022 to evaluate and fine-tune elements of Goff’s performance. The previous year, Goff completed 332 of 494 passes for 3,245 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 games.
Working closely with Quarterback Coach Mark Brunell, Morton recommended some subtle changes. That year, Goff completed 382 of 587 passes for 4,438 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His accuracy improved, the average number of yards per completion increased, and he committed fewer turnovers. Since 2022, Goff’s numbers have continued to improve. In 2024, Goff conducted a masterclass in quarterback efficiency and production, completing 390 of 539 passes with an average of 8.6 yards per completion. It was his third consecutive season passing for over 4,400 yards.
Morton played a big role in enhancing Goff’s abilities and has since been responsible for the rapid development of another quarterback. Following his successful 2022 season in Detroit, Morton was recruited by Sean Payton to be the passing game coordinator with the Denver Broncos. Under his coaching, rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a tremendous NFL debut season. He was a finalist for the Offensive Rookie of the Year and led Denver to its first postseason appearance since 2015.
How Morton Could Help Goff Silence The Critics
Morton began his career as an intern under Jon Gruden. He’s still one of Morton’s biggest supporters. When Campbell was searching for Detroit’s next offensive coordinator, Gruden commented, “So you’re losing a well-known coordinator but still have a lot of really good coaches on that staff, and Johnny Morton, he was one of the masterminds that helped put the scheme together, so I hope you get him.”
Morton doesn’t plan a lot of changes in the Lions’ offensive strategy. He believes a good offense begins with the quarterback. One of Morton’s strengths as a coach is his attention to detail. He spots the little nuances that impact a quarterback’s execution. He’ll work with Goff to clean up those small but oh-so-important details. Known to be aggressive on third-down calls, Morton is fond of big plays. That could translate well to the deep ball threat posed by Jameson Williams and rookie Isaac TeSlaa. But Morton’s ability to hone in on the finer elements of a quarterback’s performance will help him elevate Goff’s game.
Although Goff is frequently criticized for a lack of mobility, it’s unlikely that will change. Instead, Morton will work with him to make quicker alternate reads under pressure. The Lions are blessed with a loaded arsenal of talented offensive weaponry. Armed with a new bag of tricks and deep ball threats, Morton could help Goff find new ways to score. Suddenly, the NFL’s number one scoring offense could be even stronger than before. If the Lions have another outstanding season and do well in the playoffs, Goff’s critics may finally be silenced.
