For Ben Johnson, being a head coach can wait. He has unfinished business in Detroit.
Johnson, the Detroit Lions‘ first-year offensive coordinator, informed the team today he plans to return for the 2023 season, a person familiar with his decision told the Free Press.
NFL Network first reported the news.
Johnson interviewed virtually with three teams in recent days, the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts. He was considered one of the top coaching candidates on this year’s market, and reports out of Carolina suggested he was a front-runner for the job.
Johnson, 36, led one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses this season.
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The Lions went 9-8 to post their first winning record since 2017, and ranked in the top 10 in most offensive categories. They finished fifth in the NFL in points scored (26.6 ppg), fourth in total yards and eighth in passing.
Johnson rose to prominence late last season when he took over as pass game coordinator after Lions coach Dan Campbell stripped Anthony Lynn of play-calling duties. The Lions won three of their final six games to finish 3-13-1, and even during their slow start this season continued their hot play on offense.
The Lions topped 30 points eight times and won eight of their final 10 games this year, just missing out on the postseason.
Campbell said after the season he would “not be shocked” if Johnson landed a head coaching job during this hiring cycle.
Along with the Panthers, Colts and Texans, the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos have head coaching vacancies.
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“He would be worthy of that,” Campbell said. “I think a ton of him. I think he’s — I’ve said it before, I just think he’s extremely bright, he’s creative. He’s organized. He’s a great communicator. I mean, he just, he’s got it.”
Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who had one of the best seasons of his career this year, and right tackle Penei Sewell joked that they did not want to say anything nice publicly about Campbell to encourage teams to hire Johnson.
Goff threw 29 touchdown passes this season and tied a career-low with seven interceptions, and the Lions impressed NFL observers with their creative play designs, gutsy play calls and calculated use of personnel.
“He’s been as instrumental as any coach I’ve ever had,” Goff said. “Our communication is as good as I’ve ever been a part of and he does a great job with not just me but everybody, getting everyone ready to play. I joked in the middle of the year that I’m going to stop saying nice things about him because I know where that heads and if he does end up doing that, I’ll be thrilled for him. He’s a hell of a coach and that’s why you get into this profession is to do that but selfishly I’d love to continue to play for him.”
The Lions should enter next season as the favorite to win the NFC North. They return Goff, their entire offensive line and their top four receivers. Leading rusher Jamaal Williams is a free agent, but has expressed interest in re-signing.
The Lions also have two of the top 18 picks in April’s draft.
“He’s meant a lot (to the offense) just because of the type of plays that he implemented and the type of philosophies that (we had),” Sewell said. “It just matched up to the type of dudes that we had in this building. Everybody I felt like was really comfortable with the gameplan and it always worked to the best of their abilities.”
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn also is expected to return for a third season after interviewing for the Indianapolis Colts job over the weekend.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.