Lions offensive coordinator was considered to be a near-lock to be named the next head coach of the Washington Commanders.
However, in a move that caught the football world off-guard, Johnson removed his name from consideration in both Washington and Seattle and declared his intention to remain in Detroit.
BREAKING NEWS: Ben Johnson is STAYING in Detroit with the Lions #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/nMUWzqNlJf
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 30, 2024
The Commanders were actually en route to Detroit for a meeting with Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn when they were informed of Johnson’s decision to remain with the Lions.
JP Finlay from 106.7 The Fan in Washington noted that the last-second cancellation by Johnson was an unprofessional move which may hurt him in the future.
“So Ben Johnson let Washington know he was out of the running while the team was flying to meet him, source tells me. That is going to look BAD if/when he wants more head coaching interviews next year or beyond,” Finlay tweeted on X.
So Ben Johnson let Washington know he was out of the running while the team was flying to meet him, source tells me. That is going to look BAD if/when he wants more head coaching interviews next year or beyond.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 30, 2024
Needless to say, Lions fans were ecstatic with the news that Johnson is staying.
I literally haven’t even been able to think about football since Sunday but this made me smile so much
— Nico Swan 🚀☄️ (@NiccoSwan) January 30, 2024
The 37-year-old Johnson has been looked upon as the next great young coach in the NFL. He’s often been compared to Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay when it comes to offensive IQ and game-planning.
Johnson had previously interviewed for the head coaching positions with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers before those roles were filled by other candidates.
This marks the second consecutive offseason where Johnson was considered one of the hottest names among NFL head coaching candidates, and yet decided to remain in Detroit.
Sounds like he’s scared.
— Lou Piniella (@SweetLouieP) January 30, 2024
The Lions finished the season ranked third in total yards (6,712) and fifth in points scored (461), showcasing the effectiveness of Johnson’s offensive strategies.
Quarterback Jared Goff experienced a career revival under Johnson and nearly guided the Lions to the Super Bowl.
Yo this is hilarious. As a Commanders fan I started to get annoyed of the "Best destination" for this coach. Any prospective coach demanding 15 mil a year off top is a no go for me. We may have dodged a bullet.
— Manuel Gonzalez 🇩🇴🇺🇸 (@mjgjr1003) January 30, 2024
There are multiple reports that Johnson out-priced himself in the market.
Washington, despite having one of the richest ownership groups in the NFL, were reportedly turned off by Johnson’s high salary demands.
Ben Johnson asked for too much money. Exactly what B Mitch just said. My immediate thought.
I’m glad he’s not coming now pic.twitter.com/0yZbPGByLR
— Richmond John🦩 (@TheRichmondJohn) January 30, 2024
What do you think of Johnson’s decision to remain in Detroit?
Is he being a little too arrogant with his (supposedly) high salary demands?
Will his last-second cancellation hurt him in any way when it comes to the future?
As far as Washington, who should they turn to now?
Do you think they’ll go after Bill Belichick or Mike Vrabel???
I have no clue if Ben Johnson would be a good head coach but If you’re picking head coaches based on salary demands you’re an unserious franchise. https://t.co/CZPYTk2f8F
— Brendan Riley (@BrendanRiley_) January 30, 2024