3 potential head coaching openings Ben Johnson might leave the Lions for in 2025

Calling plays for the No. 1-scoring offense in the NFL right now is a pretty good gig, to say nothing of the team success the Detroit Lions are having. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has previously shown discretion when it comes to possibly leaving for a head coaching job, but he's going to be in-demand for interviews again after this season.

Within mention of the potential the Chicago Bears will have an opening after the season, ESPN's Adam Schefter hit multiple nails on the head regarding Johnson and head coaching jobs during Thursday's edition of "Get Up."

"Ben Johnson’s gonna be very, very selective about the place that he chooses to go, if he decides even to leave Detroit. He’s gonna be very careful," Schefter said. "I don’t know that he desires to leave that division to head, in the division, to go to a place that you’re talking about the dysfunction that has existed within that organization. We’ll see, that’s up to him. But I believe he’s gonna be very selective in how he chooses to do his business.” 

After host Mike Greenberg said he thought Schefter was going to say Johnson will be sought after for head coaching jobs, rather than saying he'll be "selective", Schefter confirmed that idea.

"He (Johnson) will be (sought after).", Schefter said. "But just because, let's just say, there's eight openings this year, and let's just say, eight teams have him in their wish list, doesn't mean he's going to be interviewing with eight teams. I think if Ben Johnson is interviewing with anybody, this year, he's interviewing with the intention that he's going to take that job."

Schefter didn't break any news there. We know Johnson will be selective with head coaching opportunities he entertains, and we assume he will be highly sought after for interviews again after this season.

It's becoming a legitimate question if Johnson will ever leave the Lions for a head coaching job. But on Schefter's premise of eight possible openings after the season, there stands to be at least one he'd give more than token consideration to, right? Right?

We can already cross a couple openings that already do or might exist off the list of options Johnson would strongly consider. Namely, the New York Jets, the New Orleans Saints and possibly the Bears (even if he apparently wanted that job last year). The Las Vegas Raiders probably make that list too, if they end up having an opening.

But let's take a closer look at a few potential head coaching jobs that might genuinely grab Johnson's interest in the 2025 hiring cycle.

3 possible head coaching jobs Ben Johnson might actually leave the Lions for in 2025

3. New York Giants

Stick with me on this one. The 2-7 Giants can get out of the bloated contract they gave quarterback Daniel Jones after the season, and they are headed for another high pick in next April's draft. That lines up a possible new head coach to be able to pretty much pick the incoming draft-eligible quarterback he likes best.

Owner John Mara recently gave general manager Joel Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll in what came off as a fairly defiant vote of confidence, preaching patience he didn't show with recent previous head coaches.

But the bottom line is results, and since making the playoffs and winning a postseason game in Daboll's first season (2022) the Giants are 8-18. Looking at their remaining schedule, double-digit losses again this season is in the cards.

If the Giants can build a complete offensive line, they have some interesting young skill position pieces on the offensive side to go with the pieces of a good defense that can continue to be built on.

It may only be a coin-flip chance that the Giants' job comes open after the season right now (at best?), and Johnson may not want to expose himself to the heavy scrutiny of New York media (however overblown that is, based sheerly on lingering reputation). But if you squint a little (ok, maybe a lot), there is a potentially appealing situation and a path to a quick turnaround here.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have won four games in a row heading into Week 10 to push their record to 6-2 on the season. But the combined record of those four opponents heading into Week 10 (Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars) is 10-26, and head coach Nick Sirianni is within range of the hot seat until further notice. The wins over the Browns (20-16) and Jaguars (28-23) were a little too close for comfort.

If Sirianni is fired after the season, and it is a huge 'if' even if feels like there's a path to it happening if/when the Eagles stumble, owner Jeffrey Lurie may go big-game hunting for his replacement (Bill Belichick?).

But would Belichick, as an example of a big name who will be available, be willing to co-exist with general manager Howie Roseman? Roseman seems to have complete control over personnel moves, and his track record says he shouldn't have to give up any control to a head coach who wants to take it from him. Belichick's personnel evaluation acumen has taken a big hit in recent years (see the current state of the Patriots). But it's fair to assume he'll want to "shop for the groceries", like his mentor Bill Parcells once famously said, if he takes a head coaching job in 2025.

With anything shy of a playoff win, the chance the Eagles clean out their coaching staff after the season would seemingly increase. Sirianni's relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts has been scrutinized and appears to be strained, so hiring someone who can do better there would be a pre-requisite for a head coaching hire.

In Detroit, Johnson has greatly prioritized his relationship with Jared Goff. The level of play Goff has maintained for basically the equivalent of three seasons has been a reflection of that synergy.

Should the Eagles have a head coaching opening and Johnson is willing to interview, the pairing of how he calls plays and the relationship he has cultivated with Goff would seem to easily make him a top candidate for them. It takes two to tango and there are moving parts, but there's a world where Johnson is the Eagles' head coach in 2025.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Doug Pederson is surely in his last weeks as the Jaguars' head coach. A current 2-7 record is lined up to get worse if quarterback Trevor Lawrence misses significant time with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Lawrence is reportedly not likely to play in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, and beyond that his status is unclear.

At a certain point, if Lawrence is out for multiple weeks and the Jaguars keep stacking losses, it may make sense to shut him down. Surgery is in the range of possibilities.

The Jaguars gave Lawrence a big contract this offseason, and as such they are basically married to him through 2028. So the No. 1 thing in the organization until further notice has to be to do whatever it takes to ensure Lawrence succeeds, and nothing else will matter if they don't get that right.

Maybe the third head coach for Lawrence will be the charm, after Urban Meyer was (unsurprisingly) ill-equipped to be an NFL head coach and Doug Pederson has re-proven he's the most overrated head coach in the league over the past decade. (But he'll always have that Super Bowl ring with the Eagles).

It's impossible to know what Johnson thinks of Lawrence as a quarterback right now, or what he might have in mind to get the raw talent that remains somewhat untapped out of the former No. 1 overall pick.

But the Jaguars should be more than willing to find out, perhaps in tandem with poaching a new general manager from the Lions. And with the sentiment Schefter re-confirmed this week in mind, the job in Jacksonville may be one Johnson would interview for/take.