Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was the presumptive frontrunner to succeed Ron Rivera as Washington Commanders head coach. After pulling out of an interview as Commanders’ executives were in-flight to Detroit, things have now grown heated between the two sides.
Johnson, 37, is one of the most sought-after coaching prospects in the NFL. In two seasons as Lions offensive coordinator, he has helped change Jared Goff’s career and constructed one of the NFL’s greatest offenses. He appeared to be a natural candidate to become the next Commanders head coach in 2024, given his reputation in the league and the support of his player
Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was the anticipated front-runner to succeed Ron Rivera as Washington Commanders head coach. After bailing out of an interview while Commanders executives were in flight to Detroit, tensions between the two sides have escalated.
Johnson, 37, is a highly sought-after coaching possibility in the NFL. In two seasons as Lions offensive coordinator, he has transformed Jared Goff’s career and built one of the NFL’s top attacks. Given his league reputation and his players’ support, he appeared to be an obvious choice to become the next Commanders head coach in 2024.
What transpired between Ben Johnson and the Washington commanders?
When it was first disclosed that Ben Johnson had rejected the Commanders, ESPN’s Adam Schefter speculated that Johnson’s contract demands had alarmed some organizations and may have played a role in his not being dismissed. However, contradictory reports stated that the Lions’ offensive coordinator simply wanted to stay with Detroit to attempt and win the Super Bowl.
From the Commanders’ perspective, however, Johnson “didn’t interview well” and proved to not be a good fit for the team. Because of this, they opted to hire Quinn as the new head coach. ESPN’s Jenna Laine had information from both sides, with word from around the NFL that Johnson was “turned off” by the Commanders’ ownership group that seemed to be “basketball guys” who were overconfident about their football knowledge.
