Lions OC Ben Johnson reveals why he stayed in Detroit

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was a head coaching candidate this offseason, and he revealed why he decided to stay with the team.

The NFL coaching carousel has officially stopped, as the Arizona Cardinals were the last of five teams to hire a new head coach. In the order of hirings, Frank Reich signed with the Carolina Panthers, DeMeco Ryans joined the Houston Texans, Sean Payton was traded to the Denver Broncos, Shane Steichen chose the Indianapolis Colts, and Jonathan Gannon was hired by the Cardinals. Those five coaches received their respective jobs after numerous candidates interviewed for them.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was considered one of the top candidates this cycle, and interviewed with the Panthers, Texans, and the Colts. But, Johnson decided to remain with the Lions.

During an appearance on the Twentyman in the Huddle podcast, Johnson detailed his decision to return to the team.

“It’s really simple for me, it starts with this place and these people. (I’ve) been here four years now, and I believe in Sheila (Hamp) and what she’s doing, Rod Wood, Dan (Campbell), Brad (Holmes). It starts at the top and I think it’s trickled down,” said Johnson, h/t the Lions official website. “This is as encouraged I’ve been in my four years with the direction of the Lions and where we’re headed.”

Ben Johnson reveals why he decided to return to Lions

Johnson then brought up that when he attended a Garth Brooks concert at Ford Field before the COVID-19 pandemic, he took in the atmosphere and envisioned what a home playoff game would feel like.

“I was thinking at the time and soaking in the atmosphere, and it was like, ‘Holy cow, this is what a home playoff game is going to be like, and this is what I want to be a part of. This is what I want to feel. This is what I want to experience,’” said Johnson, via the Lions official website.

“It made me feel some type of way and I kept going back to that as part of the process and you know what, there are so many good things going on here. So many good people, coaches, players, I love the offensive staff and everyone we have on board there. I love the players. I love coming into work every day. Coach Campbell is incredible, and so end of the day talking with my family it just made sense. Don’t ruin a good thing.”

At the time when the Lions officially announced that Johnson was returning, NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport reported that Johnson received an “enhanced contract that features a large raise.”

Johnson had been with the Lions organization since 2019, when he was a offensive quality control coach. But in 2022, he was promoted to offensive coordinator after the team parted ways with Anthony Lynn after the 2021 campaign. And with that, Detroit took that next leap that moved them from rebuilder status to a playoff contender.

This past season, the Lions averaged 380.0 yards of total offense (fourth-highest in NFL) and 26.6 points (fifth-highest) per game.

Quarterback Jared Goff was one of the big beneficiaries of Johnson coaching the offense. In his second season as Lions starting quarterback, the former 2016 No. 1 overall pick threw for 4,438 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 65.1 percent of his passes. With these numbers, Goff made the Pro Bowl, and helped the Lions enter Week 18 with a chance to clinch a Wild Card spot.

The Lions ended their season with a huge primetime victory over the rival Green Bay Packers. With that, there is huge promise entering the 2023 campaign, especially with two first-round picks at their disposal.The Lions got a huge win before the league year officially started, as Johnson was returning as offensive coordinator.