The Bears and Jaguars have superior quarterback situations to the Raiders, who have a major question to answer entering the offseason, and Ben Johnson has been one of the choosiest coordinators in recent memory. As Chicago and Jacksonville remain in the mix for Johnson, buzz persists about Detroit’s OC giving strong consideration to the Raiders.
Tom Brady‘s presence has driven this, with Mark Davis giving the quarterback-turned-announcer/part-owner a significant say — perhaps the lead voice — as the team searches again for a new head coach and general manager. Brady has had his eye on Johnson for a while, beginning an effort to bring him to Las Vegas when covering the Lions in Week 9.
The more aggressive stage of this recruitment began last Thursday, the same day the Raiders fired Tom Telesco, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. While not confirming Johnson called for the Raiders to fire their GM, Florio lends more in the direction of Johnson wanting “alignment” as he determines a potential landing spot. The reporting coming out of the Telesco firing had Brady playing the lead role, determining Telesco needed to go to bring in the team’s next HC and GM on the same timeline.
It is unlikely Johnson’s desire for alignment and Brady’s determination the Raiders needed to start fresh is a coincidence, and Florio adds the Raiders may have already dangled a “massive” offer to the three-year Lions play-caller. The Raiders have not yet met Johnson face-to-face, with only virtual interviews allowed with candidates tied to other teams until Jan. 20. The team cannot meet with Johnson until the Lions are eliminated (or the Super Bowl bye week, if Detroit books its first Super Bowl berth), but Brady is still with FOX and is set to call the Commanders-Lions divisional-round game Saturday night. This conflict of interest could benefit the Raiders, as the analyst certainly could make a point to speak with the high-profile coordinator.
Davis is not among the league’s wealthiest owners, but he did authorize a 10-year, $100MM Jon Gruden contract in 2018. Johnson was also linked to a $15MM-per-year salary ask during the 2024 offseason. Coaching salaries are not public, but Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton are believed to be earning between $15-$20MM and are classified as top-five-salaried HCs (or in that ballpark). The Raiders’ QB situation and their struggles finding a coach during Davis’ ownership tenure may required a monster offer near this neighborhood, even if Johnson has not proven a successful head coach yet like Payton and Harbaugh have.
The Raiders cannot match the Jaguars or Bears’ QB setups just yet, and Davis has Brady set to play perhaps the lead role — especially now that Telesco’s gone — in fixing the roster’s biggest problem. Las Vegas hold the No. 6 overall pick. The team also faces Harbaugh, Payton and the two-time reigning champion Chiefs twice a year; it went 0-6 in those games this season. For Johnson to turn down the Commanders and give this much consideration to the Raiders certainly would appear to show Brady’s impact on this process. Other candidates remain in play for the Raiders, but everything to this point suggests Johnson is the clear favorite.
You kind of have to offer Ben Johnson a massive deal because you really cannot offer him anything else.
Roster: Mediocre
QB: Nonexistent
Weather: HOT to HOTTER (in a dome but Living in Vegas is part of the consideration process.)
Division: Arguably toughest in NFL (KC, DEN, & LAC all made playoffs)
$18 million a year to come to LV would be my asking price. 5 years $90 million fully guaranteed. It sounds outrageous but so does asking Ben to go to LV. Make him the highest paid or at least a the top of highest paid coaches in the NFL.
Just my thoughts.
Oh, if they really wanted to go big I would say get Ben Johnson, grab Sam Darnold, pay Tee Higgins, draft a RB in the 1st or 2nd round. Build the o-line through the draft and free-agency and give Las Vegas one hell of a show.
Thanks for reading.
The weather sounds perfect for me, but I can’t argue anything you said on the football side as to the present state of the team.
That said, I wouldn’t spend money on Darnold. If Johnson goes there, I can’t imagine they will. With some patience, they can do better. If Sanders falls to the Raiders the way it looks he could, that’s the path, imo. If not, they should go McMillan. They could address RB later on with a solid player like Skattebo.
After being so picky up til now, he can’t be dumb enough to join that mess, can he? Brady doesn’t really translate to anything at this point beyond whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
No state income taxes in Nevada either.
JAX, DAL, TEN also no state income tax, and offering great weather as well.
Dallas has Jerry, so there is nearly 0 percent chance Johnson would go there. Jerry wants a puppet, not a coach.
I’m not convinced the ownership is any better in Tennessee than Las Vegas, and they ran Vrabel off.
Jacksonville? Maybe I could see it, too, I don’t know.
A smart OC goes where there is a QB that gives him a chance to succeed. That rules out TENN real quick.
1) Tennessee has the number one overall pick, so that’s certainly one way of obtaining a young QB (if not this year, they could their pick for future draft capital)
2) Tennessee has a HC
Granted you did end this title with a “?” and it might end up being true but that headline is seems so click-baity and fabricated. I don’t think they have met any part of the Rooney-rule yet (unless Saleh’s interview is in-person today.)
Do you really think that matters? A slap on the wrist at best. Brady is a golden child. They would never set an example with him.
sTpGoTexans —- Sam Robinson ended the title with a “?”
The writers on PTR are staff writers and not reporters. Thus the “?” eliminates anything written from having to be an actual fact to be verified. You are 100% correct this is pure “click bait” Glad you are paying attention.
well, 24 hrs later and they are compliant…lol
maybe they did that have huge offer ready after all.
If the Lions don’t win this year. He and Glenn won’t leave
Wanna bet?
Loyalty only goes so far. Take your opportunity when presented. Especially when it involves generational wealth.
If Mark Davis guarantees BJ $18M a year for 3 years, he’ll be gone!
If the Raiders are offering Johnson in the area of 15 million, you can remove the Bears from the conversation. The Bears like to pay their coaches as little cash as possible. It’s evident that they’ll remain in this mode and we’ll once again see the 2025 Bears being under coached against almost every team in the league.
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You know clue what the bears will do ? If BJ wants to go too Vegas than so be it . Enjoy playing against the Chiefs, Broncos and the Chargers . He will last a couple of years and be gone . The Bears are walking a thin line with the fans . Get if right now or lose the fan base . Fans in Chicago are fed up with the Bears .
Money is not an issue with Jacksonville; however, I can easily see Baalke being an issue with his reputation.
Unless it’s utter greed, I just don’t see any appeal with being a new head coach in Las Vegas.
Think about it though.
Empty canvas more or less and BJ could build it in his image. No QB, RB really not much on offence except Bowers. Coaching Bowers along with whoever else he decides to draft and sign in free agency.
Everyone painting Khan/Baalke a better starting point need to get a grip.
To add more context that hasn’t been mentioned yet: The only issue with mark davis is bad with is he’s been bad at hiring, so obviously Ben Johnson doesn’t care about that.
Also there are teams with better qbs, but the problem is with that comes win year 1 expectations. Some may prefer building up a roster from a bad team while ownership knows you have a multi year plan. Also jags and bears have GMs, so sounds like those are potential issues too.
No way he goes to LV. As a Lions fan I’ve read these types of posts dozens and dozens of times the last few years. All BJ has talked about is the perfect situation for him and his family, and i seriously doubt this being the perfect situation. LV has one of the worst rosters in the NFL and are years away from truly competing. If he does take this job after all the talk about waiting for the right fit, then he’s been totally full of **** with all of that propaganda. I’m sure he’s going to book, but LV? Should be interesting.
As a Raider fan, I’d have to disagree some. I see Johnson has been with DC through a majority of this lions rebuild. I can confidently say the lions were far worse shape (roster and history wise) than the current state of the Raiders. This opportunity could intrigue Johnson. Who knows.
They have a ton of $ in cap space. They have the best TE in football right now. Jakobi Meyers is probably the most underrated 1,000 yard WR in football. They have Maxx.
Aidan has shown some flashes (with not so good coaching). Kinda reminds me of a poor mans Goff. I see it as an interesting situation for someone like Johnson. With that being said I’d prefer a guy who has some skins on the wall. Dont know what youre getting with Johnson as an HC. we shall see.
Money talks
Even better point.
Regardless of their “superior” QB position, I just cannot fathom the Bears matching LV by giving Johnson $15M+ per & allowing him choice of GM. Thus, the Bears can kiss their opportunity to hire Big Ben goodbye, surely disappointing Caleb. Yet, they seem destined to think they’re in it & wait til end of January, lose out on Ben, then settle for McCarthy at best, Flores or Rivera more likely.
Whomever gets hired will face the daunting task of immediate Playoff expectations in the toughest division with bottom 5 O- & D-lines, helmed by a strategically limited GM who’s made one exceptional move versus several dozen mistakes that have left their roster construction on shaky ground going into year 4. He’s going to need one heck of a draft to save his job, replacing 3-4 O-line starters & unearthing an offensive weapon amidst scheme & coaching changes on both sides of the ball.
Caleb will likely develop, but they will struggle to win consistently & are seemingly right on schedule to fire the GM in 2026, draft another QB, fire the coach, ad infinitum. It’s a horror show, make some popcorn!!
McCarty to the bears then?
It still blows my mind how Brady is able to go call this game and lead this search for a new coach at the same time, especially when his number one target is coaching in it.
I’m guessing it’s because he’s not the decision maker. Brady only owns 5% of the team. Nowhere near MDs controlling stake. He can give his two cents but ultimately it’ll come down to Mark Davis. Egon Durban bought at the same time as Brady and he owns 7.5%. So he’s more of an owner than TB12.
But I get your point though. I can see what you mean.
I mean, if he can secure the bag there, generational wealth, why not take it just as a trial run. Barring some off-field scandal, I highly doubt BJ could flame out so bad as Raiders HC that he wouldn’t be able to find another OC job immediately (the following season) upon being let go