Lions OC Ben Johnson is staying, turning down possible chance to be NFL head coach, AP sources say
DETROIT — (AP) — The Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks have turned to other candidates since Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has chosen to remain with the organization and decline offers to become an NFL head coach for the upcoming season.
Johnson notified teams he would not be leaving the Lions, according to two individuals with knowledge of the issue who spoke with The Associated Press on Tuesday. They didn’t want to be identified because Johnson hadn’t made his plans public.
Johnson had two in-person interviews with the Seahawks, the most recent one taking place on Monday, and was
Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator for the Lions, and brass are still meeting.
Johnson, 37, and Glenn contributed to coach Dan Campbell and the Lions’ first two postseason victories since capturing the NFL championship in 1957. They also made it to the NFC championship game for the second time in the team’s history and the first time in thirty-two years. Their Sunday 34–31 loss to San Francisco opened the door for teams to sign Glenn or Johnson.
After working in a variety of coaching capacities for the first three seasons, Johnson was in charge of Detroit’s offense for the second time.
Johnson, referred to by Campbell as “a rock star,” spent three years as an assistant at Boston College before making his NFL debut with Miami in 2012. He advanced with
as a front-runner for the Commanders in their extensive coaching search. On Tuesday, he was supposed to address the Commanders.
According to one individual with knowledge of the circumstances, the Washington
Before joining Detroit and becoming the receivers coach for the Dolphins in 2018, he had a significant impact on Jared Goff’s development as a quarterback.
Johnson had an interview with the Houston Texans last season prior to DeMeco Ryans being hired.
With Johnson remaining in Detroit, the Commanders are down to Glenn, Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and Baltimore assistants Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver, among the few candidates they have met. After losing out on hiring Johnson, it’s unknown if they’ll turn to former Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel, their own offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, or another candidate.