The Washington Commanders were initially heavily connected to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson during their exhaustive coaching search.
However, in a surprising twist, they ultimately opted to appoint Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, as their new head coach.
Ben Johnson, on the other hand, decided to remain in his current role as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. His motivation behind this choice was his desire to take another shot at clinching a Super Bowl victory with the Lions.
While Johnson’s decision is reasonable and aligns with his professional aspirations, it has not been without controversy.
Renowned ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter took issue with the way Johnson handled the situation with the Washington Commanders.
“If you’re Ben Johnson…if you know you don’t want that job, and you’ve committed to talking to these people…why would you not just sit down with them when your season is over?”
According to reports, Johnson withdrew from the coaching search just as the Commanders’ ownership group was en route to meet with him in Detroit. This abrupt change of heart caught many by surprise and left the Commanders in a difficult spot.
Schefter’s strong critique of Johnson’s actions is noteworthy, as he rarely exhibits such passion when commenting on coaching decisions. Clearly, Johnson’s last-minute decision has generated frustration and disappointment among those involved with the Washington Commanders, and this sentiment appears to have reached Adam Schefter’s attention.
It will be interesting to see what Ben Johnson’s future as a potential NFL head coaching candidate fares after this situation.