The Detroit Lions are going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the 2024 season. Part of the reason why is that they secured a lot of key players such as QB Jared Goff to long-term contract extensions.
However, an important note here is the Lions also managed to retain OC Ben Johnson. He certainly was considered for multiple head coach positions this past offseason. Yet, he stayed with the Lions as the offensive coordinator.
Many people are curious as to why Johnson was not hired as a head coach this past offseason. Johnson explains that it came down to a personal decision. And he revealed he does not have much optimism for the new head coaches in the NFL.
Ben Johnson Thinks Five New Head Coaches Won’t Last Long
Earlier today, Johnson was asked about head coach opportunities he had this past offseason and his current position with the Lions. Johnson revealed that he was happy with the Lions’ situation and was not confident in the stability of any team’s situation that needed a head coach:
“Eight openings this past year… I would put the over/under at 4.5… there’s a good chance five of them (head coaches) are out of the job in three years. If I get the opportunity to go down that road, it’s about how I get myself to that second contract. I’m not going to do it just to do it. I love what I’m doing right now.” -Ben Johnson
Head Coach Openings Filled
For those of you who had a tough time keeping up with the coaching carousel this offseason, there were eight job openings filled. Here are the teams who had a position available and the coaches who ended up taking those positions:
- Atlanta Falcons- Raheem Morris
- Carolina Panthers- Dave Canales
- Las Vegas Raiders- Antonio Pierce
- Los Angeles Chargers- Jim Harbaugh
- New England Patriots- Jerod Mayo
- Seattle Seahawks- Mike Macdonald
- Tennessee Titans- Brian Callahan
- Washington Commanders- Dan Quinn
The most notable opening here is the Commanders. That is because there was heavy speculation during the offseason that Johnson had a scheduled interview with the team but canceled it in the middle of the journey. Washington ended up being the last team to hire a new head coach of these eight teams.
Detroit Lions Moving Forward
So, what does Johnson have to look forward to with Detroit? For one thing, this team made the NFC Championship game last season. Plus, the Lions ranked in the top five for every relevant team offensive stat category.
On top of this, the Lions have done a great job retaining their offensive talent. This includes QB Jared Goff, OT Penei Sewell, and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. Now, Johnson and the Lions will get the opportunity to run it back next season.
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