After rescuing one of the NFL’s most struggling teams, Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, has emerged as one of the top candidates for head coaching throughout the previous two offseason cycles.
Johnson’s play-calling and quarterback Jared Goff’s success carried the Lions into the NFC Championship Game in 2023 after they had concluded the 2022 season on a high note.
The Lions assistant has reportedly chosen to stay in Detroit for at least one more season, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Johnson was contacted by several teams this offseason and was considered for the vacant head coaching positions with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders.
#Lions OC Ben Johnson informed the #Seahawks and #Commanders that he’s staying in Detroit, per sources.
Johnson is still only 37 and will be a hot head coaching candidate again next year. But first, he wants to take another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/lPg2Po33sx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2024
This is comparable to what occurred in 2022 since Johnson, who chose to return to the Lions and try to guide them farther than they went that season, was supposedly a top contender for the head coaching position with the Carolina Panthers.
In the conference championship game, Detroit, which finished with a top-five offensive, had a commanding halftime lead over the San Francisco 49ers before losing after failing to score for the majority of the second half. Johnson was successful in that quest.
This is encouraging for the young Lions, who should have most, if not all, of their key offensive players back in 2024. These players include Goff, tight end Sam LaPorta, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Furthermore, Johnson will probably be a top candidate for head coaching in 2025 if he has another strong season, and he may be able to choose from a variety of openings when they do occur.
