Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has decided to stick with Detroit for a bit longer, despite being a hot commodity in the head-coaching market this offseason.
At 38, Johnson withdrew from consideration, feeling he had more to accomplish with the Lions. He was approached by several NFL teams – including interviews with theSeahawks, Panthers, Chargers, Falcons and Commanders.
Atlanta and Washington were particularly keen, each asking him for a second interview. However, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported, Johnson told the Commanders he was staying in Detroit even as their executives were en route to meet him.
At a press conference during the Lions’ OTAs on Thursday, Johnson shared why he turned down the opportunities. “When it boils down to it, I wanted the sunshine a bit longer,” Johnson said. “That’s really what it comes down to for me.
“I like the sunshine. I like what we’ve built here starting with ownership, the head coach, the GM on down. We have a great group of guys in the locker room and I want to reap the rewards with them a little bit longer.”
Ben Johnson held head-coaching interviews with several teams
Under his guidance last season, the Lions won the NFC North for the first time since 1993 with a record of 12-5 and made it to the NFC Championship Game, their first appearance since 1991. Johnson is eager to continue contributing to Detroit’s success and wary of jumping into a head-coaching role that might not be the right fit.
“Something that really resonates with me is … Okay, eight openings this past year. What would set the over/under in three years? How many still have jobs?” he asked. “Shoot, I’d put the over/under at 4.5. I would say there’s a good chance five of them are out of jobs in three years.
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