Lions OC Ben Johnson is staying, turning down possible chance to be NFL head coach, AP sources say
On Thursday, January 11, 2024, in Allen Park, Michigan, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, Ben Johnson, speaks to the media at the NFL football team’s training facility.
DETROIT:The Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks have turned to other candidates since Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has chosen to remain with the organization and decline offers to become an NFL head coach for the upcoming season.
Johnson notified teams he would not be leaving the Lions, according to two individuals with knowledge of the issue who spoke with The Associated Press on Tuesday. They didn’t want to be identified because Johnson hadn’t made his plans public.
Johnson had two in-person interviews with the Seahawks, the most recent one taking place on Monday, and was seen as a front-runner for the Commanders in their extensive coaching search. On Tuesday, he was supposed to address the Commanders.
The Washington brass is still speaking with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, according to one of the people with knowledge of the issue.
In addition to helping coach Dan Campbell and the Lions win twice in the same postseason for the first time since winning the NFL championship in 1957, Johnson, 37, and Glenn contributed to the team’s second-ever NFC championship game appearance and its first in thirty-two years. Their Sunday 34–31 loss to San Francisco opened the door for teams to sign Glenn or Johnson.
After working in a variety of coaching capacities for the first three seasons, Johnson was in charge of Detroit’s offense for the second time.
Johnson, referred to by Campbell as “a rock star,” spent three years as an assistant at Boston College before making his NFL debut with Miami in 2012. Before joining Detroit and being a key contributor to quarterback Jared Goff’s development, he advanced through the ranks of the Dolphins to the position of receivers coach in 2018.
Prior to DeMeco Ryans’ hiring by the Houston Texans last season, Johnson had an interview.
With Johnson remaining in Detroit, the Commanders are down to Glenn, Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and Baltimore assistants Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver, among the few candidates they have met. After losing out on hiring Johnson, it’s unknown if they’ll turn to former Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel, their own offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, or another candidate.
Johnson caught the attention of Seattle as well, following Pete Carroll’s dismissal after 14 seasons as head coach. Following the Lions’ loss in the NFC championship game, Johnson had an in-person interview with Seattle on Monday after his initial virtual encounter with the team.
When Seattle decided against making a hire before the conference championship games, it made it obvious that Johnson was among its top targets. Quinn’s prior ties to Seattle made him appear to be the front-runner.
But the longer the Seahawks held off on making a move with Quinn, the more apparent it was that other choices, like Macdonald, were being entertained.
