NOVEMBER 21: Johnson is not eyeing the “perfect” opportunity with respect to a head coaching position, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero writes, but to little surprise alignment with the front office and the chance of long-term success will be crucial in his evaluation of his 2025 opportunities. Remaining with the Lions through another hiring cycle certainly remains a distinct possibility in Johnson’s case at this point, although plenty of changes in the HC landscape can take place between now and the offseason.
NOVEMBER 17: Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been one of the hottest names in each of the past two coaching cycles, though he ultimately pulled his name out of HC consideration in both 2023 and 2024 to remain in Detroit. To no surprise, Johnson will be “very, very selective” about his destination in the upcoming cycle, and he may elect yet again to stay in his current post, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted in a recent appearance on Get Up! (video link).
Schefter goes on to say that Johnson will not be interviewing simply for the sake of interviewing. If he agrees to a summit with the front office of any club, he will be doing so with every intention of taking that club’s HC job.
Of course, the success that Johnson has had as the Lions’ OC has afforded him the ability to be choosy about his seemingly inevitable head coaching opportunity. Since his ascension to the top spot on the offensive coaching staff in 2022, Detroit has posted a 29-14 regular season mark and made it to the brink of a Super Bowl appearance, and quarterback Jared Goff has revitalized his career. Over the 2022-23 seasons, the Lions finished in the top-five in terms of both total offense and points scored, and the 2024 version of the team currently sits sixth in total yards and second in points per game.
Johnson’s patience with this process is best exemplified by the fact that the Commanders’ HC job was reportedly his for the taking earlier this year, and it was a desirable position. After all, Washington is under new ownership, had just hired a well-respected general manager in Adam Peters, and had considerable salary cap space and draft capital to work with. That included the No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 draft, which gave the team a clear chance to select its franchise quarterback (which it eventually did when it used the selection on impressive rookie Jayden Daniels).
Despite the benefits of the Commanders’ top job, and despite the fact that the Lions did not sweeten his contract, Johnson turned down Washington’s overtures. When discussing his decision in May, he said, “I’m not gonna do it just to do it. I love what I’m doing right now. Love it. I love where I’m at. My family loves where we’re at. Love the people that we’re doing it with, so I’m not willing to go down the other path yet, unless I feel really good about how it’s gonna unfold.”
The 38-year-old staffer further indicated that he is seeking an opportunity that presents a real chance of sustained success and, by extension, a clear route to a second contract. It is unclear exactly how he will make that determination, but Schefter does appear to suggest that the Bears will not be on Johnson’s list of top landing spots.
If Chicago moves on from current HC Matt Eberflus, the club would presumably love to poach Johnson from its division rival, and it does have the No. 1 overall pick of this year’s draft, Caleb Williams, at quarterback and a fair amount of talent on the roster. However, Schefter cites organizational dysfunction as a reason why Johnson might steer clear of the Bears.
The Jaguars are looking increasingly likely to be in the head coaching market this offseason, and like the Bears, they have a former No. 1 overall pick at quarterback (Trevor Lawrence) and talented players on both sides of the ball. Incumbent HC Doug Pederson has not been able to get Lawrence to live up to his potential, though, and while Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post hears that Jacksonville owner Shad Khan might give Johnson a blank check to come to Duval, Johnson could be leery of that gig as well.
come on down to dallas
Has Jerrah died yet? Because if he hasn’t, Dallas still puts the ‘D’ in ‘dysfunctional.’
Jerry os probably too strong a personality and too hands on as a “GM” to be compatible with a lot of coaches, but Dallas normally does win games. I wouldn’t say that they’re close to being the most dysfunctional team in the league by a long shot, despite traditional popular opinion.
I also don’t think that Johnson goes there as a first choice for that reason, but who knows. He might look at his available options and say that Dallas has the best history of winning games. Of course, that’s also assuming that he doesn’t see the Lamb, Prescott, and (soon to be) Parsons deals as being immensely restrictive in building a new team. I’d think that an innovative coach like Johnson has a clear idea of what he wants to run and what types of players he wants, and while there is an allure in having a league leading veteran passer to rely on, Johnson probably wants some flexibility in building his team.
He’s trying to steer clear of dysfunction. Jerry Jones thinks he’s a competent GM & of course, he’s not. He rode Jimmy’s drafts & when that dried up, so did that organization. Nope, he’s definitely not going to Dallas.
As he should. Too many coaches jump at the first opportunity that they see, as if they’re afraid that they may not be able to replicate their one or two career years of success. Johnson’s got a great situation right now, and has led an incredibly impressive offensive resurgence for some time. More experience only makes him better at his job, and more able to evaluate potential opportunities for fit. The turnstile of coaches taking desperate opportunities in Carolina should be proof of why waiting for the right job can make an enormous impact on a coach’s legacy.
I have a handful of theories regarding Johnson’s options, especially in the case of surprise openings, but I’ll keep them to myself. Needless to say, if Johnson ends up staying another year with Detroit, he might end up with either a SuperBowl to show for it, or at least have what would in today’s NFL be considered an enormous body of experience for a first time head coach.
Well said. Way too many coaches take a run at whatever job is available, whether a good fit or not and end up not getting a 2nd chance when they fall flat. And not only that, I give BJ a LOT of respect for realizing he loves what he’s doing now and who he’s doing it for. Happiness is much more important than $$$ and power, and he loves working with Dan, Brad Holmes and Sheila Ford. Much respect to him for staying a coordinator when a lot of teams were willing to give him prolly double what he was making in DET. And the fact that I’m a lifelong Lions fan I appreciate it even more! LMAO
It’s a rumor site, don’t keep things to yourself 😉
Please think about Tampa maybe swap Liam Cohen he can be Lions OC since offensive HC means he is gone anyways.
Pretty sure Ben won’t want a meddling owner which is why he didn’t even take a Panther interview. Jets & Cowboys would be out.
Saints no weapons since Olave concussion guy & Kamara is aging rb so can’t rely on him.
Jags is decent if Lawrence can be fixed, Khan isn’t that meddling.
Bears have weapons but Williams must be willing to get better.
Bengals gotta be the only possibility.
I actually considered that myself as an option that could surprise some people. While Taylor isn’t awful, it has never felt to me like he’s maximized Burrow’s potential with what could be a great offense in any given year. I could see Johnson weighing Burrow and Chase as good options. However, it’s going to reliably be the toughest division in football in any year. I don’t know how he views ownership there, though.
Here’s the question: does Johnson think that he should wait for the perfect job, or does he feel that he needs to get in while he can? If it’s the former, I could see him waiting out in Detroit and shooting for even greater heights on offense.
I think Bengals HC is going to be the surprise opening. They have underperformed as a team.
He’s not making a lateral move. HC is the only way he leaves.
As a bengals fan I can only pray but the reality is would Johnson really want to come to an opportunity where he is finically limited by poor owners probably not but then again no other opportunity has Burrow and Chase as building blocks. I really think it comes down to the Browns willingness to pay the contract Johnson deserves
Someone’s got an awfully big head!
As he should he’s one of the best coaching prospects in the last ten years
Being selective about your next job when you are the most talented OC in the NFL = having a big head? GTFO.
Why is it hard for some people to understand that he’s happy where he is? I’m not saying he won’t become a head coach sooner or later (I think he will), but if a job doesn’t look really super enticing to him he’s happy to stay where he is.
And Detroit will be happy to pay him well to stay as well.
I think that Shelia could double DC’s & Brad’s salary with a SB win which then would allow Brad to pay Ben 5 to 8 million as the HC & keep everyone happy,paid, & laid!
Please come to Cincy yes we have no money yes our stadium is a dump and yes our ownership is bad actually don’t come here save you career lol
There could be a lot of HC openings at end of year. We already have Saints and Jets. The Jets are proving to be a disaster at the top and the Saints are going to still be in Cap jail as long as Mickey continues to kick the can.
Other possible openings in my opinion, not in order of likelihood:
Raiders, Browns, Bengals, Jaguars, Bears, Cowboys, Giants, Panthers
Ben, either stay where you are OR go to the Jets or Giants ONLY if they agree to draft/sign a QB and a new O line (worry about their D the following year) and allow you to choose your own staff.
He is letting the Jaguars know that he ain’t comin if Baalke is still there !
I’m being “highly selective” too. Choosing between “tastes great” and “less filling” is not a decision one should rush.
In other words, Jets, lose his phone number
AKA “I’m not going to the Jets” and I don’t blame him.
Translation: “I will not coach the Jets”
I still say the Bears would be a great opportunity. Warren and Poles have only been together a couple of years. Poles has his faults. What GM doesn’t. But He’s still solid, They have a good young QB, A good defense and some pieces on the offense in place. Warren and Poles seem to be in alignment. They’ll have 70 million to spend in FA and some nice draft picks. Williams needs a good offense minded HC to lead him. Hire the right DC and hopefully not one who subscribes to the bend don’t break puke style of defense. Bears could be a quick turnaround. Seems like it’s made for him. Bears have a lot of good players led by lousy coaches. And fire ALL the coaches this time and let him pick his own. Don’t make him keep this guy and that guy to save a couple of bucks like the Bears usually do. Clean House from Poles on down. Fire the groundskeeper too. Oh wait, I might have a relative on there.
Hey Mike! isn’t that your nephew Staley?….link to youtube.com
I blew his cover!
Sorry, I see little chance Johnson chooses to work for the Bears. I agree with you about Warren & Poles (and Cunningham) being on the same page, but they are hampered by owners that will not pay a HC > $10M per, which Johnson will easily surpass from another franchise. Even worse, Johnson would be walking into a bad clubhouse with bad leaders, but most importantly, a VASTLY overrated QB prospect that will sink the next HC. He will likely find a better opportunity.
Thomas Brown the cheap & predictable choice for HC.
Bengals after they fire Taylor
Sorry Jets….
Pokes …
I know this , if he interviews for jobs again and is offered a position and doesn’t accept it (again) , he should just remove his name from the list of potential HC .. this is very , Josh McDaniel-ish .. No HC vacancy is gonna be a 100% great situation, unless Dan Campbell wins a championship and rides off into the sunset..or if the Eagles fire Sirianni .. Playoff teams don’t get head coaches fired .. underperforming teams and bad ownership/front office decisions do .. each job has it’s own sets of strength’s and weaknesses.. I love Ben , and I wish he would ride this thing on out , but there are only 30 of these jobs.. only a handful become available each year, if he ever wanted one , soon is the time .. Like real soon
God forbid anyone be selective about taking a new job when they love the job they’re currently doing and are very well appreciated and well paid.