The Detroit faithful can breathe a sigh of relief as Eminem's planned diss track against Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is shelved indefinitely, with Johnson confirming his stay in Detroit. After a hair-raising season that saw the Lions' playoff dreams dashed by the San Francisco 49ers, Eminem – who proclaims himself an unofficial member of the squad – openly lauded Johnson's decision, emphatically tweeting, "Guess I should stop recording this diss track..!! Lol!!" as per The Detroit News.
Eminem's spirited antics have long since infused life into the fandom of his hometown team, his presence at games became an expected sight during Detroit's ill-fated march to the NFC Championship, a game which found the Lions leading at halftime only to see their hopes dashed in a nail-biting 34-31 conclusion, reports Fox News. The rap icon's commitment to the team went about as far as a joking ultimatum delivered on his SiriusXM radio station Shade 45, where he threatened Johnson with a diss track should he leave Detroit.
Coach Dan Campbell and his high-stakes play calling, which has been a signature of his tenure with the Lions, came under scrutiny post-game, his several fourth-down attempts translating to turnovers and subsequent touchdowns for the 49ers, while Johnson, who was a hot commodity for head coaching positions around the league ultimately recommitted himself to Detroit's growing promise. The Lions' offensive leap forward can be partly attributed to Johnson's strategies, which culminated in the team boasting the league's third-best offense in yards and fifth in points per game, notes Fox News.
Despite the crushing playoff exit, Detroit's performance under Johnson has been transformative, quarterback Jared Goff throwing for the second-most yards in the NFL and the team placing fifth in league rushing - feats that certainly contributed to Eminem's public relief and excitement over the coordinator's decision, "Coach Campbell we love you bro!!! Let's run it back next year!!...I'm READY!!!! I promise you I WILL get us to the super bowl!!!" Eminem said in a statement echoed by USA TODAY. With Johnson firm in the fold for another year, the artist's spirits, and presumably those of the Lions' fans, are high with hopes of a Super Bowl run still very much alive in the Motor City.
