Everyone understands that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be one of the more popular names on the head coaching market this year. According to NFL expert Josina Anderson, Ben Johnson is aware of this as well, as he is demanding a preposterous deal for a first-time head coach.
According to Anderson, Johnson is looking for a contract worth $15 million per year.
While coaching contracts are not made public like player contracts, a $15 million contract would immediately place Johnson in the top three earners in the NFL. According to Pro Football Network, Bill Belichick earns $20 million per year, Sean Payton earns roughly $18 million per year, and Pete Carroll earns $15 million per year. A first-time head coach often makes around $5 million per year.
UPDATE: Richmond Flowers III, Ben Johnson’s agent, has refuted this report:
According to sources, personnel throughout the league are discussing their realization that there is no asking price or demand, and this tweet is completely untrue and irresponsible reporting. https://t.co/6RMT3GaHCU
Richmond Flowers III (@Richmond__3) is a Twitter user. 21st of December, 2023
Johnson has contributed to the Lions’ offense becoming one of the greatest and most imaginative in the league. He helped build the No. 5 scoring attack in his debut year as full-time offensive coordinator. The Lions are still in fifth place in his second season.
Johnson was one of the more popular coaching candidates last year, but he soon dropped out after Detroit reportedly offered him a “large raise” to return in 2023.
Is Johnson’s high asking price only a heuristic? Is this a hint that he is devoted to his current career and that leaving would need a significant commitment on his part? Or does Johnson truly believe that’s what he’s worth? It’s difficult to say at this point.
So far, three head coaching positions have arisen as a result of mid-season firings: the Las Vegas Raiders, the Carolina Panthers, and the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnson interviewed for the Panthers’ position before deciding to stay.
“I constantly come back to this story: it was one of the first offseasons I had here, shortly before COVID hit. “I remember sitting there thinking at the time—I was just soaking it all in, the atmosphere—and it was like, ‘Holy cow! This is what a home playoff game is gonna be like,'” Johnson said. “And this is something I’d like to be a part of.” This is how I want to feel, how I want to experience, and it made me feel something. I kept returning to it as part of the process.”
He’s only one victory away from making that a reality.
