1:38pm: Johnson will take the Jaguars’ meeting, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Also confirming Johnson will follow through with Bears and Patriots meetings, Russini adds Johnson’s Jags summit will occur during the Lions’ bye week. Johnson has since received a Raiders interview request, but no word has emerged he will take that interview. The Saints and Jets have not requested interviews.
9:05am: The Jaguars have sent out an interview request for Lions OC Ben Johnson. It is not yet known if the three-year Detroit play-caller will take the meeting; as of now, he has been tied to the Bears and Patriots’ HC openings. But the Jags do intend to make an aggressive play here.
Despite firing an offense-oriented HC (Doug Pederson) on Black Monday, Jacksonville is believed to be “all in” on Johnson, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. Johnson has been notoriously selective, and that should be expected to continue. After all, the Lions’ 15-2 season will keep the 38-year-old OC in demand despite his having jumped off the 2023 and ’24 HC carousels early.
Joe Brady, Liam Coen, Kellen Moore and Todd Monken join Johnson among offense-oriented candidates on the Jags’ radar. Although no interview request has come out, Pauline adds Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury is a name to monitor here. The former Cardinals HC said he is interested in returning to a top job, even though his first such chance ended badly. Jayden Daniels‘ presence would stand to allow Kingsbury to be choosey as well.
No Kingsbury interviews are on any team’s docket, and no team has requested one yet. That adds some mystery here, though the Bears — after meeting with Caleb Williams‘ 2023 QBs coach at USC for their OC position last year — are expected to huddle up with him once again at some point. Kingsbury elevating Trevor Lawrence would be the Jags’ hope here, as that will be perhaps the franchise’s chief aim after a 4-13 season.
One matter that could stand in the way of the Jags adding a hotshot offense-based candidate, Trent Baalke‘s status continues to be a talking point around the league. A Tuesday report indicated certain candidates would steer clear of the Jacksonville job because Baalke was retained, but Pauline indicates the fifth-year Jags GM might not be long for the position. Some around the NFL view Baalke’s retention as a way for Shad Khan to receive assistance in hiring the next HC and then see the embattled GM kick himself to another role within the organization.
GMs have transitioned to other jobs within buildings before, as Rich McKay and John Elway‘s transitions in the not-so-distant past remind. Baalke, 60, has also shown an ability to stick around when many expected an ouster. Baalke has been GM (of the 49ers and Jaguars) during the tenures of five HCs. That number reaching six should not be ruled out, but a scenario in which Baalke changes jobs while another GM is hired appears on the radar, at least.
That would stand to help the Jags with a Johnson pursuit, as a candidate with options certainly may express reservations about being tied to an in-house GM. For now, that would remain the case. But a Jags aggressive pursuit of the Lions’ OC probably includes flexibility in the GM role.
Ben should demand Ballke is fired if he wants to take the job.
I really still don’t understand why Ben Johnson would go anywhere if he didn’t want to go to Washington last year and have the chance to draft and develop Jayden Daniel’s. If he’d turn his nose up at that, why is the Jaguars job any better, let alone significantly worse?
I guess I could understand him going to Chicago for the chance to right that offense and unlock Caleb Williams and their receiving core, but certainly not Jax
That depends on what he thinks of Trevor Lawrence. He might see Trevor as the better bet to be elite over the next 5 years than Caleb Williams. And financially, Shad Khan might make Johnson an offer he can’t refuse with respect to money. And Khan might give Johnson free rein to pick the next GM.
And to add to my comment above, Shad Khan is 74 years old and is worth 13 billion dollars. He might decide now is the time to go all in on getting the top head coaching prospect to turn his team around. In comparison, the Bears owners (the McCaskeys), are relatively cash poor.
Ben turned Goff from after thought to All pro. Maybe can work wonders w/ Trevor as well.
He could’ve made a ton of money last year and didn’t. He’s gonna go where he thinks he has the best chance of long term success.
Yep as he should. Why be one and done like way too many coordinators to HCs these days.
Johnson won’t go there if he reports to Ballke. He saw GM/Coach dysfunction up close with the Quinn/Tricia Lions and how that relationship should work with Holmes/Campbell. That’s why he’s being selective.
Shad Khan has basically said Baalke is expendable. He’s not fired yet, but may be based on the HC search.
That would be a good sign for the Jags, but when was that said?
Nevermind. Saw it in the Doug Pederson article.
errrrrr …. Kliff should receive Consideration as should Brian Flores.
and Mike Vrabel. Saleh ??? Why ???
I always saw Kingsbury going to Jax or Chi if anywhere. Somebody who has a young possible franchise QB that needs positive development fast.
Kingsbury’s Az time was a $hit $how. He had Glenn as his DC and still couldn’t make it work. I pity the team that entrusts their future to him.
Kahn should never have hired Baalke based on his Body of Work in San Francisco and inability to get along with Jim Harbaugh ! Baalke can’t seem to get along with any Coaches.
My guess is that the Bears is where he ends up and why wouldn’t he take the job if offered they have a good young QB to build around. The Jags just don’t seem that good of a fit. He seems like more of a Midwest kind of guy
He was born in South Carolina and played high school and college ball in North Carolina, so he’s at least got some comfort with the southeast.
He’s not going to the JAGS because that’s just a horrible organization. Can’t trust the front office! Chicago has cap , assets, young QB
Coaches all suffer from the same affliction…Ego and they all think that they will be the one that turns around or develops a player. Going to Chicago is a death wish / career killer…Caleb Williams will get more coaches fired than he has Pro Bowls before it’s all said and done and Baalke is the same…the guy has nine lives and coaches will get fired but he will survive.