In the fast-paced world of the NFL offseason, coaching changes, hiring decisions, and rumors often generate more headlines than regular-season games. As the search for the right head coach intensifies for teams hoping to improve, the spotlight often falls on the top candidates being interviewed. One name that has garnered significant attention this year is **Ben Johnson**, the highly respected offensive coordinator of the **Detroit Lions**.
Johnson, who has gained recognition for his innovative offensive schemes and ability to maximize the talents of his players, is being pursued by several teams, with the **Jacksonville Jaguars** emerging as a prominent suitor. The Jaguars recently announced that they have officially scheduled an interview with Johnson for their head coaching vacancy, sparking a wave of controversy and debate within the NFL community.
This blog post will dive into the reasons behind the controversy, the significance of the Jaguars’ interest in Johnson, and the broader implications for both teams involved — the Jaguars, the Lions, and the NFL coaching landscape at large.
### The Jaguars’ Search for a New Head Coach
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a unique position heading into the 2024 offseason. After a rollercoaster of seasons, the team found some stability under **Doug Pederson**, who guided them to the playoffs in his first year as head coach in 2022. However, after a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw the team miss the postseason, the Jaguars’ leadership decided it was time to make a change.
Jacksonville’s ownership and front office are committed to building a winning culture, and they understand the importance of making the right head coach hire. With a talented roster led by quarterback **Trevor Lawrence**, wide receiver **Christian Kirk**, and running back **Travis Etienne**, the Jaguars are in a good position to compete — but they need the right coach to guide them to greater success.
Enter **Ben Johnson**.
### The Rise of Ben Johnson: The Lions’ Offensive Architect
Over the past couple of seasons, Ben Johnson has earned a reputation as one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL. Serving as the offensive coordinator for the **Detroit Lions** since 2022, Johnson quickly turned Detroit’s offense from a league laughingstock into one of the most explosive units in the league. His innovative play-calling, creativity in the passing game, and ability to balance the run game have made the Lions’ offense not only more efficient but also incredibly difficult to defend.
Under Johnson’s leadership, the Lions became known for their dynamic offense, which featured the growth of **Jared Goff** as a quarterback, the emergence of **Amon-Ra St. Brown** as one of the league’s top receivers, and the development of a diverse, high-powered attack. Johnson’s offensive schemes made the Lions one of the league’s most dangerous teams in terms of both points per game and overall yardage.
As the NFL coaching carousel heats up every offseason, it’s no surprise that teams with head coaching vacancies have taken note of Johnson’s success. His ability to develop young quarterbacks, integrate multiple offensive weapons, and create a well-balanced offense has made him one of the top candidates for head coaching positions.
### Jaguars’ Interest: What’s at Stake?
For the Jaguars, the interest in Ben Johnson is a clear indication that they are serious about finding the right offensive-minded coach who can help take Trevor Lawrence and the team to the next level. After Pederson’s tenure failed to produce consistent success in 2023, the Jaguars’ front office is looking for someone with fresh ideas and a proven ability to develop a high-scoring, dynamic offense.
Given that Johnson has proven to be adept at maximizing the potential of a young quarterback (as evidenced by his work with Goff), the prospect of him pairing with Lawrence — the former No. 1 overall pick and one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league — is enticing. Lawrence, who has shown flashes of brilliance but still needs consistency in his game, could be an ideal candidate for Johnson’s system. A potential pairing of Lawrence and Johnson could result in the Jaguars becoming an offensive juggernaut in the coming years.
However, what has caused controversy is the timing of this interview and the optics surrounding it.
### The Timing and Controversy: A Delicate Situation for the Lions
As the Jaguars prepare to interview Ben Johnson, the timing has raised some eyebrows. The controversy stems from the fact that **Johnson’s Lions** are still playing in the postseason. Though Detroit’s playoff hopes were dashed in the final weeks of the regular season, they are still undergoing team evaluations and preparing for the 2024 season. This means that Johnson, as one of the Lions’ key coordinators, is still an integral part of the franchise’s future plans.
For many fans and analysts, the decision by the Jaguars to schedule an interview with Johnson while his Lions team is still reeling from their playoff near-miss feels disrespectful and out of place. The optics of an NFL team conducting interviews with a current staff member while their current employer is preparing for the next season can appear to be undermining the team’s cohesion and focus. This is especially concerning given that Johnson is a highly valued coach within the Lions’ organization and is considered a vital part of their upward trajectory.
Moreover, some argue that it could create unnecessary distractions for both Johnson and the Lions as they attempt to evaluate talent and build on their 2023 progress. Lions’ head coach **Dan Campbell**, who has done a tremendous job leading the team to its first competitive season in years, has understandably expressed frustration over the timing of the interview. With the NFL coaching carousel notoriously chaotic, Campbell and the Lions would prefer to keep Johnson’s focus on their future, rather than on potential opportunities elsewhere.
### The NFL’s Coaching Process and Rules
To make matters more complicated, the NFL has strict rules regarding the hiring process for assistant coaches during the playoffs. According to NFL guidelines, teams are allowed to interview candidates for head coach positions, but those interviews are only permitted once the candidate’s team is no longer in the postseason. However, there are provisions for teams to interview coaches currently involved in playoff races as long as those interviews happen after the Wild Card round. This means that Johnson’s official interview with the Jaguars may not be illegal or outside the bounds of NFL regulations.
Nevertheless, the timing of these interviews often raises ethical questions, especially when teams are trying to build momentum toward the playoffs. It is a situation that leaves both franchises in a delicate position, as their focus needs to remain on player performance and team development rather than potentially distracting off-field developments.
### Johnson’s Decision: The Path Ahead
For Ben Johnson, this interview is a huge opportunity. Moving to a team with a young quarterback like Trevor Lawrence and a solid offensive foundation could be a major step in his career. If Johnson impresses the Jaguars, he could find himself leading the team in 2024, taking over an offense that could become one of the best in the league with the right leadership.
However, the decision isn’t easy. Johnson has helped transform the Lions’ offense into one of the NFL’s most exciting, and Detroit has the pieces to contend for a playoff berth next year. Leaving the Lions after such a short period could be a difficult decision for Johnson, especially if he’s deeply invested in the team’s future and feels he has more to prove in Detroit.
### What’s Next?
As the Jaguars prepare to conduct their interview with Johnson, they will need to navigate the potential backlash and ensure that the focus stays on their future success. The controversy surrounding the timing of the interview with Johnson may continue to simmer, especially if the Lions view it as a distraction during an important offseason.
For Johnson, the ball is now in his court. The opportunity to lead the Jaguars could be tempting, but staying in Detroit with a franchise on the rise might also be appealing. One thing is certain: the drama surrounding this situation adds another layer of intrigue to the already chaotic NFL offseason. As the NFL coaching carousel continues to turn, the ultimate decision could have far-reaching consequences for both the Jaguars and the Lions.
In the end, the focus will return to the field, where both teams must build their future — with or without Ben Johnson at the helm.