Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn reside as two of the top coaching candidates still available. Six head coaching vacancies remain around the league, but that figure could drop very soon. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted there is a strong possibility of both Johnson and Glenn departing during this year’s hiring cycle. Such a scenario would leave Detroit in need of a new offensive and defensive coordinator for 2025, while other staffers could leave as well by following Johnson and Glenn to their new destinations. Nothing is imminent on that front, but Campbell knows he will likely be shorthanded in the near future.
“I would expect to lose both, but I haven’t been told anything,” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I just, I’ve got a feeling, but I am prepared to lose both.”
Johnson has been strongly linked to the Raiders, although the Jaguars and Bears remain in play as well. Glenn’s presumed top suitors have been the Jets and Saints throughout the interview process, and to no surprise both teams have lined up an in-person meeting with him. With the hiring cycle likely to heat up over the coming days, both staffers (whom Campbell has publicly endorsed as logical head coaching targets for outside teams) will be worth watching closely.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter as well as NFL Network’s Peter Schrager note Johnson and Glenn could each have a head coaching gig lined up by the middle of this week. That would fall in line with current expectations since they are both free to speak with teams at any time over the coming days. Coaches still involved in the playoffs, by contrast, cannot meet with suitors this week.
Interestingly, Campbell added that in the event Johnson departs, quarterback Jared Goff will have input in the search for a new OC. The former Rams No. 1 pick has enjoyed plenty of production with Johnson in Detroit, something highlighted by the $53MM-per-year extension he is currently attached to. Campbell noted duplicating the setup in place with Johnson will be a key goal in the (hypothetical) search for his replacement.
“This thing is set up for Goff to have success with our playmakers,” Campbell said. “[Amon-Ra] St. Brown, our running backs, the O-line, the whole deal. Jamo [Jameson Williams]. And so I want to keep that in place. I want to keep our terminology in place, and I want to make sure that Goff is comfortable, cause he’s playing at a high level.”
To no surprise, Campbell left the door open to both internal promotions and external hires when speaking about potentially needing to fill the void left by his coordinators. It remains to be seen if either path will be necessary, but no one would be surprised at this point if a number new faces were on the sideline for the Lions next year.
Seems pretty sure not only that Johnson will leave, but that Tanner Engstrand will be promoted to OC. That’s been the rumbling for a while now, and if the league didn’t believe it to be true, you’d think Engstrand would have a ton of OC interview requests.
There have been reports that Engstrand will leave with Ben Johnson.
Interesting. I imagine if he were offered a chance to stay and be a play-calling coordinator with a contender, that would be hard to turn down.
Well, coaches also bring their guys with them to their new jobs. Engstrand probably will be considered by Johnson in moving to Chicago-it’d be hard for him to completely ignore arguably his top subordinate in taking the HC position, barring an already existing arrangement with Detroit. I’d say that chances are high, either way, that stays in the NFC North.
I could see the Lions going after Dennis Allen for DC, considering his history with Dan Campbell.
If Saleh doesn’t take the 9ers’ offer or get hired by another team as HC, I think that he’d be a strong candidate for DC in Detroit.
Feel for Dan, he is a great coach. And I’m a Wash fan. But Detroit needs to go to the promise land, and I wish him the very best!
Yeah, I may be wrong, but with two coordinators getting so much fanfare for HC jobs this cycle again, I just can’t see how it couldn’t have affected the Lions’ performance this playoff season. Last year, there were the rumbles for Johnson leaving; this year, he had to devote his time and attention to several long interviews, while also preparing for a good Washington team. Not only that, but Glenn had to do the same, but also with a litany of crippling injuries to go along with it.
I really wish that these interviews could just all take place after the Super Bowl, for every team. No ill feelings towards your Commanders, of course (who have rightfully and competitively earned their own time in the sun after some trying times), but I just can’t see how having a high profile HC candidate (let alone two) competing for interviews doesn’t hurt a team’s competitive process.
Tanner Engstrand will likely be the Lions’ new OC. Kelvin Sheppard will likely be the new DC if Glenn leaves.
One former player following another. Awesome to see. I always think it’s great when former players get into coaching, especially if they do it well.
And just like that the Lions Dynasty ended before it started.