Facebook Pixel

    Who Is Ben Johnson? Lions OC Gaining Traction as Head Coach Candidate

    OC Ben Johnson is expected to get several head coaching offers this hiring cycle, and how he has improved the Detroit Lions' offense proves why.

    Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is one of the top candidates for an NFL head coaching job in 2023. He has already had several interview requests and conducted interviews with various teams with openings this cycle.

    Should he want to explore possibilities this offseason, Johnson is expected to have his pick of jobs, but why is he being spoken about as a potential candidate?

    Ben Johnson’s Career

    Johnson is the hottest name in this head coach hiring cycle, but he has worked his way into this position.

    The Lions OC started his coaching career in 2009 when he joined Boston College. He has previously been a walk-on QB at North Carolina, serving only as a reserve player before graduating in 2008.

    At Boston College, Johnson was a graduate assistant until 2011, when he became tight ends coach.

    In 2012, Johnson entered the NFL, linking up with the Miami Dolphins. He served in various roles for the team, including offensive assistant, tight ends coach, and wide receivers coach until 2019.

    Johnson then joined the Lions, where he was offensive quality control coach in 2019, tight ends coach in 2020 and 2021, and then passing game coordinator in 2021.

    In 2022, Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator as one of the best, young, creative offensive minds in the game. He had an instant impact in Motor City, turning the Lions into a top-five offense.

    In the 2022 regular season, the Lions were ranked fifth in total yards per game (380) and fifth in total points (453). He managed to do this with Jared Goff as the starting QB, a player many had written off after he was traded from the Rams to the Lions.

    Then, in 2023, Johnson worked his magic again. Detroit was ranked third in total yards per game (394.8), ranked only behind the 49ers and Dolphins. The Lions were also ranked fifth in total points (461).

    Detroit also managed to improve their running game in 2023, ranking fifth in total rushing yards (2,311), which is up from 11th in 2022.

    What makes Johnson special to Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is “The way he’s explaining the plays. The way he’s detailed how we’ve got to run these routes in the red zone, I just knew the way he was talking to us, it just felt different.”

    MORE: Ben Johnson Among 6 Candidates To Replace Arthur Smith in Atlanta

    The amazing job Johnson has done with Detroit’s offense led to him being linked with head coaching jobs last year. He had interviews with the Texans and Colts, while also having an interview scheduled with the Panthers before pulling his name from contention, opting to return to Detroit for the 2023 season.

    This season, Johnson is again one of the best candidates and has scheduled interviews with multiple teams.

    Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!

    Free Interactive Tools

    2025 NFL Mock Draft Simulator

    The PFN Mock Draft Simulator features hundreds of prospects, scouting reports, and free trades -- jump into the FREE mock draft machine and get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft.

    2025 NFL Season & Playoff Predictor

    PFSN's 2025 NFL Season and Playoff Predictor is a tool that allows you to play out various weekly scenarios to see how the NFL playoff picture changes with each scenario.

    NFL Offseason Manager: Salary Cap, Free Agency, and More

    Do you think you can manage your favorite team’s roster better than the real-life general managers? PFN's Offseason Manager is here to help you prove it.

    Related Stories

    Chiefs Reportedly Won’t Give Key Offensive Weapon a New Deal Until He Returns to Form

    After struggling with their run game last season, the Chiefs are reportedly hesitant to extend this star RB's contract.

    NFL World Reacts to Isaiah Bond Bombing 40 Time After Guaranteeing He’d Break Xavier Worthy’s Record

    When Isaiah Bond failed to deliver on his guarantee of setting the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine, he got roasted on social media.

    Why Did the 49ers Trade Deebo Samuel Sr.? Fantasy Impact, Trade Grades, Contract Fallout, and More

    Deebo Samuel Sr. was traded to the Washington Commanders after requesting a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. What's next?

    Join the Conversation!