Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown recently shared a humorous story about how he figured out his coach was leaving the team before it was officially announced. When former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson departed to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, there was speculation that he might bring some of his former colleagues with him. Ultimately, Johnson ended up hiring two coaches from the Lions’ staff: wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett.
St. Brown, one of Detroit’s star players, managed to deduce Randle El’s impending departure on his own, thanks to a group chat with his coach and fellow receivers. On the January 29 episode of The St. Brown Podcast, he recounted how he playfully called out Randle El before the news was made public.
St. Brown recalled sending a message in the group chat, writing, “El, ain’t you from Chicago?” and following up quickly with, “You following Ben?” He sent the message at 6:17 p.m., and just two minutes later, he received a call from Randle El. St. Brown picked up, and the first words he heard were, “The (expletive).” He then asked his coach, “What’s up, man?” to which Randle El responded with surprise, wondering if the news had already been leaked. St. Brown admitted that he was just joking around, but it turned out he had unknowingly guessed correctly.
Randle El had been the Lions’ receivers coach for St. Brown’s entire career, and the two developed a strong working relationship. Under Randle El’s guidance, St. Brown flourished, becoming a key offensive weapon for Detroit. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in just his second season and continued to improve, earning All-Pro First Team honors in back-to-back seasons.
During the podcast, St. Brown expressed his happiness for Randle El, acknowledging that it was a great opportunity for his former coach. However, he also hinted that when the Lions face the Bears next season, there will be extra motivation on Detroit’s side. With so many familiar faces now on Chicago’s sideline, it’s safe to say the matchups will carry additional significance.
While coaching changes are a natural part of the NFL, this particular shift has a unique twist given the history between the personnel involved. Johnson’s move to Chicago was one of the more notable coaching changes of the offseason, and his decision to bring Randle El and Barrett with him strengthens his new staff. Johnson had been with the Lions since 2019, initially serving as the tight ends coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022. Under his leadership, Detroit’s offense blossomed into one of the league’s most potent units.
Randle El, a former NFL wide receiver himself, had been instrumental in developing Detroit’s receiving corps. Before his coaching career, he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington franchise, winning a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh. His knowledge and experience helped shape St. Brown into one of the best young receivers in the league.
Losing a coach like Randle El is never easy, especially for a player who has grown under his mentorship. However, St. Brown’s lighthearted approach to the situation shows the strong bond between the two. Even as they part ways professionally, there’s a clear sense of respect and appreciation for what they accomplished together.
St. Brown’s ability to predict Randle El’s move simply by connecting the dots in a group chat is an amusing example of how players often pick up on team changes before they become public knowledge. In a fast-moving league like the NFL, news spreads quickly, but sometimes, intuition and a well-timed joke are enough to reveal what’s coming.
As the Lions look ahead to the next season, they will have to adjust to a new receivers coach and continue building on their recent success. Meanwhile, Randle El will now be tasked with helping Chicago’s receiving corps reach a new level under Johnson’s leadership.
With the NFC North rivalry between Detroit and Chicago already intense, these coaching moves add even more intrigue to the upcoming matchups. When the two teams face off next season, St. Brown and the Lions will have extra motivation to prove themselves against their former coaches.
For now, though, St. Brown can enjoy the funny way he found out about his coach’s departure—through a simple text message that turned out to be right on the mark.
