One of the hottest names on the NFL head-coaching cycle is staying put, but the Lions’ staff could still lose a member.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, has notified the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Commanders that he will remain in Detroit.
As the Lions got ready for the postseason, Johnson was in high demand and became the front-runner for the Commanders’ head coaching position. The 37-year-old will now try to recover as Detroit pursues its first-ever Super Bowl victory.
Amon-Ra St. Brown clarified Johnson’s decision to stay. The standout receiver for the Lions revealed on Wednesday that Johnson had called him on Tuesday to inform him of his impending return.
The cause of it? They still had more to do.
“I’m like, ‘So what’s up with you, you did an interview, like, are you leaving?'” In the “St. Brown Brothers” podcast, St. Brown stated. “He says something like, ‘You know what, I’m heading to the facility right now. He claimed that he had trouble falling asleep the previous evening. After giving it some thought, he declared, “There’s unfinished business.” He desires to remain.
“He stated that he wishes to stay in Detroit because it holds a special place in his heart. Thus, he informed me of that while travelling to the facility.”
Ben Johnson helped turn around Jared Goff and the Lions
After joining the Lions in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach, Johnson advanced to the position of tight ends coach, passing game coordinator, and, in the previous season, offensive coordinator.
The 2021–22 Lions finished 25th in the NFL in points scored and 22nd in yards gained the year before he was promoted. After being traded to the Rams, Jared Goff’s first season with the franchise ended with a 3-13-1 record, while Matthew Stafford won the Super Bowl.
Upon Johnson’s takeover, the improvement was immediately noticeable. With that, Goff shot to prominence as one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks, and the offence as a whole surged to fourth in yards and fifth in points scored. The squad was known for its inventive and varied strategy, which frequently caught defences off guard.
This season, the team’s momentum carried over, resulting in a 12-5 record and Detroit’s first division championship since 1993. The team’s championship drought now stands at 68 years after a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game on Sunday marked the end of the season.
The Lions are one of just four teams in the NFL who have never made it to the Super Bowl, out of the 12 teams that have never won the Lombardi Trophy.
Prior to DeMeco Ryans’ hiring by the Houston Texans, Johnson was interviewed for a few head coaching positions during the previous summer. Johnson was a far more well-known contender this time around. The Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Los Angeles Chargers all made requests to him. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, some organisations were taken aback by his salary requirements.
It’s obvious that Detroit offered a lot this year. Teams with open head coaching positions took note, but Johnson postponed due to unresolved matters. The news is perhaps welcome for those who were hoped the Lions will improve on their incredible 2023 season. However, the staff may still lose an important member while the head coaching cycle is in effect.
When they realised that Johnson intended to stay put, commanders officials were en route to Detroit, where they were scheduled to meet with Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, according to Schefter. It is said that Glenn is still the preferred candidate for the head coach position at Washington.
According to a recent NFLPA study of over 1,700 players, Glenn is the best defensive coordinator in the football league. After taking over as defensive coordinator for the Lions in 2021, Glenn’s 2023 season was his tenth NFL coaching stint. Before taking on roles as defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints (2016–2020) and assistant defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns (2014–15), the former first-round draft pick worked in the front office of the New York Jets.
Ahead of what might be a historic 2024 season for the team, Detroit may decide to keep both coordinators based on the results of Glenn’s interview with Washington.
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