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The Detroit Lions have given Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson a “substantial raise” to stay with the team as OC.
The Detroit Lions have given Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson a “substantial raise” to stay with the team as their OC. Keeping him apart of head coach Dan Campbell’s staff for at least another season.
The 36-years old Ben Johnson has had a meteoric rise in the NFL coaching ranks. Johnson started off in Detroit as offensive quality control coach in 2019. He was promoted to Tight Ends coach in 2020, and was retained in 2021 under new head coach Dan Campbell.
During the 2021 season, Johnson saw his role increase from passing game coordinator to the Lions offensive coordinator mid-season. Johnson was subsequently promoted to permanent offensive coordinator to begin the 2022 season.
Under Johnson, the Lions scoring offense improved from 25th in 2021 to top 5 in 2022, a rare achievement for a non-playoff team. Johnson was able to turn Jared Goff, once disposed by the Los Angels Rams, into a very capable starting quarterback and the two brought the Lions into the brink of postseason contention.
Johnson was considered one of the hottest candidates to land a head coaching job this offseason but took his name out of the running early. The pay-raise was a big reason why he chose to stick around and continue to help Lions turn things around.
#Lions have given Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson a "substantial raise" to stay on the team as OC, per @SInow
Johnson was considered one of the hottest candidates to land a head coaching job this offseason but took his name out of the running early.https://t.co/mOXmLzOslC
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 6, 2023