Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has decided to stick with Detroit for a bit longer, despite being a hot commodity in the head-coaching market this offseason.
At 38, Johnson withdrew from consideration, feeling he had more to accomplish with the Lions. He was approached by several NFL teams - including interviews with theSeahawks, Panthers, Chargers, Falcons and Commanders.
Atlanta and Washington were particularly keen, each asking him for a second interview. However, as NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported, Johnson told the Commanders he was staying in Detroit even as their executives were en route to meet him.
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At a press conference during the Lions' OTAs on Thursday, Johnson shared why he turned down the opportunities. "When it boils down to it, I wanted the sunshine a bit longer," Johnson said. "That's really what it comes down to for me.
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"I like the sunshine. I like what we've built here starting with ownership, the head coach, the GM on down. We have a great group of guys in the locker room and I want to reap the rewards with them a little bit longer."
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Ben Johnson held head-coaching interviews with several teams (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)Under his guidance last season, the Lions won the NFC North for the first time since 1993 with a record of 12-5 and made it to the NFC Championship Game, their first appearance since 1991. Johnson is eager to continue contributing to Detroit's success and wary of jumping into a head-coaching role that might not be the right fit.
"Something that really resonates with me is ... Okay, eight openings this past year. What would set the over/under in three years? How many still have jobs?" he asked. "Shoot, I'd put the over/under at 4.5. I would say there's a good chance five of them are out of jobs in three years.
"When I look at it from that perspective, if I get the opportunity to go down that road it's about how do I get to that second contract. How do I set myself up? The stars need to align. I'm not going to do it just to do it. I love what I'm doing right now. Love it. I love where I'm at. My family loves where we're at. Love the people that we're doing it with. So, I'm not willing to go down the other path yet unless I feel really good about how it's going to unfold."
Asked what factors would contribute to an ideal head coach job that could prompt him to leave the Lions, Johnson replied: "It's ownership, it's staff, it's my vision of how I can make it work with how I know I am. Part of me, I love play-calling. If I took a head coaching job, I would want to be a play-calling head coach.
"Well, there's a limit to how much time there is during a week so what's it going to look like Monday through Sunday in that regard? Just want to make sure everything's nailed down. Listen, there's an adjustment period for every person that takes that job."
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