During the Lions’ Week 18 victory against the Vikings, Sam LaPorta broke an NFL record

Sam LaPorta of the Lions shattered a Packers franchise record.

The Detroit Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 on Sunday night, breaking personal franchise records.The Lions get home field advantage for the first time in franchise history. Sam LaPorta, the team’s top tight end, also achieved a historic milestone.

In just two years, the second-year tight end has surpassed former Green Bay Packers standout Keith Jackson’s record of 144 career receptions. The Lions PR team validated LaPorta’s TE record on X. LaPorta’s catches include his postseason totals from last year.

LaPorta caught seven receptions on all seven of his targets inside Ford Field, with both the NFC North championship and the No. 1 seed at stake. He had 63 receiving yards as the Lions recorded their eighth game of scoring 30 points or more. He blasted the Vikings with this 17-yard grab, his longest of the game.

Big-time grab for a pickup of 17 from @samlaporta#MINvsDET | 📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/8EJusNI5NI

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 6, 2025

LaPorta finished the regular season with 60 catches, 726 yards, and seven touchdowns. He is also making his second appearance in the playoffs. He is not, however, the first Lions player to reach that milestone.

Sam LaPorta joins previous Lions stars in achieving this postseason accomplishment.

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

When the Lions drafted LaPorta, they hoped to break their six-season playoff drought. He has subsequently developed as one of the league’s top young tight ends.

In addition to breaking Jackson’s record, LaPorta joined one past Lions standout in accomplishing this unusual franchise playoff achievement. He joined Johnnie Morton as the first Lions offensive weapon to reach the postseason in his first two years of career.

In 1994 and 1995, the former first-round wide out from USC made the playoffs in the Motor City. Morton arrived in Detroit as the 21st overall choice in the 1994 draft. He scored one touchdown in limited action his rookie year. The Lions ended 9-7 overall before losing 16-12 to the rival Packers in the first round.

Morton then returned to lead a seven-game victory streak to end 1995. He finished fourth in receptions with 44 and third in touchdown catches with eight. However, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Detroit Lions 58-37 in the NFC Wild Card round.

LaPorta has established himself as the Lions’ sophomore NFL standout. Only this time, he is leading the conference’s top overall seed into the playoffs. LaPorta and the Lions now have some time off before playing the NFC’s lowest remaining seed during the weekend of January 18.

Lorenzo J. Reyna has joined ClutchPoints as Associate Editor of NFL & NCAA Football. He has previous expertise in both worlds, having worked at Pro Football Network and Heavy, as well as writing for 247 Sports. His Twitter/X username is @LJ_Reyna, and his Instagram account is @lj_zo_rey.

Detroit Lions are allegedly ready for many departures this offseason including who will succeed Ben Johnson?

The Detroit Lions went into the 2024 NFL season knowing that this was their best opportunity to win a Super Bowl. Despite several injuries on both sides of the ball, the Lions are projected to be one of the top NFL teams in 2024, but they are allegedly concerned about what lies ahead.

Detroit has been fortunate in previous years with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, one of the top NFL coaching contenders, consistently declining head-coaching offers. However, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions coaching staff were aware that Johnson would eventually go.

Weeks before the NFL coaching carousel begins, reports have arisen that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears may be on Johnson’s radar. He is likely to conduct head-coaching interviews, and he may not be the only one departing the Lions in 2025.

According to CBS Sports NFL expert Jonathan Jones, Campbell is “prepared” to lose both of his coordinators this summer. Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are both highly sought after by many clubs, and both are expected to be named as head coaches this summer.

Losing both coordinators may have a huge impact on a club the next season. After reaching Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon both left for head coaching positions in 2023.

Philadelphia began the next season 10-1 before imploding in the second half, ending the regular season 11-6 and losing 32-9 in the Wild Card Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Similarly, the San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl XXIX before losing both coordinators the following summer. San Francisco fell in the Divisional Round the following season.

Who will succeed Ben Johnson?

The degree of interest in Johnson over the years has allowed Campbell time to assess the Lions coaching staff and determine who may be the next offensive coordinator in Detroit.

According to Jones, possibilities for the next Lions offensive coordinator include associate head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, offensive line coach Hank Fraley, and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

“Detroit is going to try to keep people there, whether that’s with salary or titles.”

Source on Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn possibly poaching members of the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff.

In February, reports suggested that Engstrand may be Johnson’s replacement. The 42-year-old is largely regarded as a rising star in the NFL, and he has previously sparked interest in offensive coordinator positions.

If Johnson and Glenn are both named as head coaches, they will undoubtedly try to steal members of the Lions’ coaching staff. While Detroit will undoubtedly be able to prevent some of those movements with promotions and salary hikes, the Lions are certain to lose more than four coaching staff members this summer. Furthermore, Lions deputy general manager Ray Agnew may join either Glenn or Johnson in a package deal, bringing members of the Lions front office with him to a new team.