In a development that would've read like an Onion headline just a couple years ago, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is staying in Detroit because he feels like it provides him with the best opportunity to win a Super Bowl.
The 37-year-old was a candidate for both of the remaining head coaching openings -- in Washington and Seattle.
ESPN's Adam Schefter, taking the teams' side, reported that the choice was not necessarily Johnson's to make.
Ben Johnson was not the head-coaching lock that people thought and his asking price spooked some teams, per sources. https://t.co/cFl2FPBtcY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2024
Johnson's time in Detroit actually predates head coach Dan Campbell. He joined the club in 2019 as a quality control coach, then moved to tight ends in 2020. Campbell anointed him with a passing game coordinator title upon his arrival in 2021, then made him offensive coordinator in 2022.
Detroit finished both regular seasons fifth in scoring with Johnson running the offense.
The Lions, of course, came achingly close to reaching the club's first Super Bowl, blowing a 17-point halftime lead en route to a 34-31 loss in San Francisco on Sunday.
Detroit will be a favorite to make it back to the NFC title game, and Johnson will see that effort through before continuing his pursuit to take over his own team.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.