The connection between Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown has the Lions dreaming big

DETROIT – The high school football scene in California was in turmoil in 2017. At Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, there was an All-American receiver whose name was difficult to pronounce.

Amon-Ra (ahmon-RAH) St. Brown.

The Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback at the time, Jared Goff, also a California native who was selected first overall in the NFL draft the previous year, also couldn’t figure out the name.

“When I was in LA and he was in high school, he and the… [Mater Dei] Quarterback JT Daniels, and they set the world on fire,” Goff recalled. “And I remember hearing all kinds of stories about this incredible high school kid, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and I was like, ‘What is it?’ his name? How do you spell that?’ But yeah, and now we’re together and it’s great.

Goff and St. Brown ultimately teamed up with the Detroit Lions in 2021, forming one of the best quarterback-receiver connections in the NFL.

In this week’s Sunday night showdown at the Houston Texans, Goff completed the last 30 passes targeting St. Brown in Week 3. Based on the difficulty of each catch, the odds of keeping the streak going at 1 were 780,000 (or 0.0001%) according to Next Gen Stats.

The improbable run is the result of a chemistry the two players have developed through countless hours of work together.

Against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, St. Brown caught all seven of Goff’s scores for 56 yards and a touchdown, after which he stood on his head to celebrate.

“He’s very precise about where he throws it and he doesn’t just throw it for the sake of throwing it. I think that’s the biggest thing,” St. Brown told ESPN after the 24-14 win at Green Bay. “It really is him. When he throws it to me, I’m out there just having fun.”

St. Brown is tied for second in the NFL in touchdown receptions, while Goff is having one of the best stretches of his pro career – or any other – after becoming the first QB in NFL history to receive 80% of his touchdown receptions completed over a six-game stretch, including Sunday.

Lions coach Dan Campbell knows he is seeing something unique.

“If you’re a quarterback, and we have a heck of a good one, but it’s easy to throw him to a guy like St. Brown because he’s open, he’s got body control and balance, he can separate, he’s quick, he’s got that. “Speed ​​of play, strong hands,” Campbell said. “His posture tells you that if I’m the quarterback, you have a really good idea of ​​what he’s doing. They’ve done it long enough that they can think without speaking. They know each other and what they’re preparing for” and all that. It’s special and they make each other better.

Although they are both from California and knew about each other, Goff and St. Brown didn’t officially meet until they both arrived in Detroit in 2021. Goff was traded by the Rams for long-time Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, while St. Brown was selected in the fourth round by USC.

St. Brown’s NFL career got off to a slow start. He didn’t make his first career start until Week 5 of his rookie season, but finished the year with Lions franchise records for most receiving yards (912) and receiving yards (90) by a rookie. He has since become the franchise record holder for fewest games needed (57) to reach 4,000 yards in a career.

“He just kept growing and there comes a point where you say, ‘We’ve got to get this guy the ball.’ And actually, Goff said all along, ‘This guy is going to be a good player,'” Campbell said. “He knew that early on, so it was about giving him opportunities as he continued to grow. And once that connection started, it just never went away.”

The two host private throwing sessions each summer in Southern California, where they work on timing, tendencies and ball placement. Over the years, St. Brown’s ability to create separation and win his one-on-one duels has made him a reliable target for Goff.

“He’s the friendliest target I’ve ever thrown to and I’m lucky enough to play with him,” said Goff, who played four seasons with All-Pro wideout Cooper Kupp before joining the Lions. “I hope I can play with him for a while longer. He is a hard worker. He does everything right. I love him. He’s great.”

In the Lions’ Week 7 win over previously undefeated Minnesota, their bond was evident during Detroit’s final drive. With 1:18 left, Goff found St. Brown for 14 yards, setting up kicker Jake Bates’ game-winning field goal.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Lions have the best chance of any team to reach the Super Bowl this weekend (30%). St. Brown has a lot of confidence in Goff as one of the leaders who will help the Lions get there. Detroit has never reached a Super Bowl or won an NFL championship since 1957. They’re hoping to change that by getting some California boys to run the show.

“I feel like he managed to get us over the hurdle, it’s just a matter of it being a team sport. We all have to be on the same page, we all have to get over the hurdle together,” said St. Brown. “It’s not just him. So he just has to be himself. He’s great.”