When former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left the team to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, there was some expectation that he might take at least one other coach with him.
He ended up taking two.
Those two coaches were former Lions WR coach Antwaan Randle El and former assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett.
It turns out that one of the Lions' stars was able to figure out that Randle El's departure was coming before anything was announced.
On the January 29 episode of the "St. Brown Podcast", star Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown revealed that he connected the dots in a group chat with his coach and fellow receivers ahead of the news breaking.
St. Brown said,"I hit up the group chat, I go, ‘El, ain't you from Chicago?' I sent that. Next one. ‘You following Ben?' Literally, I sent that at 6:17 p.m. Two minutes later, I get a call from him. 'The (expletive).' I answer."
He continued, "He said, ‘What's up, man.' He goes, ‘Hey man. How'd you know? Did that get leaked?' I said, ‘Nah, I was just messing around.'"
Randle El had been the receivers coach in Detroit for the entirety of St. Brown's career and it was a partnership that worked out well.
St. Brown quickly turned into a star, going over 1000 yards in his second season and earning All-Pro first team honors in each of the following seasons.
In the podcast, St. Brown also expressed that he was happy for Randle El, but we can expect to see him a bit motivated when the Lions play the Bears next season with so many familiar faces on the sideline.
