The first offseason domino for the Detroit Lions has fallen. But it couldn’t have landed in a better place for the organization.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on January 30 that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has told the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders that he is no longer interested in their head coach openings.
Instead, Johnson will return to the Lions as offensive coordinator next season.
“Lions OC Ben Johnson informed the Seahawks and Commanders that he’s staying in Detroit, per sources,” wrote Pelissero on X (formerly Twitter).
“Johnson is still only 37 and will be a hot head coaching candidate again next year. But first, he wants to take another shot a bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Detroit.”
#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.
Johnson has served as Detroit’s offensive coordinator each of the past two seasons. The Lions finished both of those seasons ranked in the top 5 in yards and points scored.
It was the first time Detroit accomplished that in back-to-back campaigns since 1953-54.
In 2023, the Lions were third in total offense and fifth in points scored. They also averaged 389 yards and 28.7 points per game in three postseason contests.
How Key is Ben Johnson’s Return for Lions?
It’s hard to overstate how important Johnson coming back will be for the Lions.
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell and the team’s offensive players have supported Johnson’s potential head coaching pursue in front of the media. To reporters on January 29, center Frank Ragnow stressed that NFL offenses are about players and not plays.
But there are recent instances of great teams not experiencing anywhere close to the same success after losing an offensive play caller or coordinator.
Most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles lost both coordinators, including offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, from their NFC championship team in 2022.
Under Steichen, the Eagles were third in points scored and yards during 2022. This season, they finished seventh in points and eighth in yards. They also collapsed as a team, losing six of their last seven games including the playoffs.
After the 2016 season, the Atlanta Falcons lost offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to a head coaching job. That was right after the Falcons blew their 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl.
In Shanahan’s final season, quarterback Matt Ryan won league MVP. The Falcons were first in points and second in yards.
During the season immediately after Shanahan left, the Falcons were 15th in scoring and eighth in yards. Atlanta has also made just one playoff appearance in the last seven years.
After Shanahan’s departure, Falcons former head coach Dan Quinn posted a 24-29 record.
That’s not to say the Lions were due for that type of decline had Johnson left. But Johnson has been a hot name in NFL head coaching rumors like Steichen and Shanahan were.
Johnson has also experienced a lot of success as a play caller as those two did.
Lions Still Face Questions With Coaching Staff
It’s possible Johnson could have been a head coach last year. But he made the same decision as this January and returned to the Lions.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn made that same choice — returning instead of pursuing head coaching opportunities — a year ago. With Johnson coming back, the attention now turns to Glenn’s future
USA Today’s Commanders Wire’s Bryan Manning wrote over the weekend that the Commanders will interview Glenn on January 30. Washington was also expected to interview Johnson the same day.
Glenn has not been connected to the Seahawks head coach opening.
In addition to Glenn, Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El has a new coaching opportunity. He interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator opening on January 29.
Until those coaches determine their futures, the Lions won’t be able to officially “run it back” with the same coaching staff in 2024.
But Johnson will return to Detroit for next season.
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Ben Johnson Makes Final Call on Future With Lions: Report