Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson returns for another seasonThe Detroit Lions offensive coordinator will take it back another year when he told the Seahawks and Commanders that he was coming back to Detroit.
Even though it looked like Ben Johnson was the heavy favorite to land the Washington Commanders head coaching job, the Lions offensive coordinator will return for another season with the Detroit Lions, according to Tom Pelissero.
According to Pelissero, Johnson has informed both commanders and the Seattle Seahawks that he intends to return to Detroit.
According to Adam Schefter, Johnson was “not the head coach” some suggested and his asking price “scared some teams.”
At the start of the regular season, Josina Anderson reported that Johnson was seeking $15 million per year, although Johnson’s agent denied this.
Regardless of the reason, Johnson’s return to the Lions is a huge win for the Lions and quarterback Jared Goff.
The Lions’ offense ranked fifth in back-to-back seasons, and Johnson’s unique playmaking prowess helped Detroit to the NFC Championship Game, where they scored 31 points against a stout 49ers defense from San Francisco.
“We were a game changer for us,” coach Dan Campbell said Monday of Johnson. “It’s an essential piece.”
Johnson reportedly interviewed with five different teams during this training cycle: the Commanders, Seahawks, Falcons, Chargers and Panthers.
He and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were scheduled to conduct in-person interviews Tuesday with the commanders, who traveled to Detroit to speak with both candidates.
At this time, Glenn’s status is still uncertain. He remains a candidate for the commander position, but was not interviewed by the only other remaining vacancy (Seahawks).
You can follow all the Lions coaches (and the interest they attract from other teams) with our 2024 coaching carousel. UPDATE:
According to Schefter, Johnson informed commanders of his decision ahead of his scheduled conversation with them later Tuesday:
