5 possible candidates to replace Ben Johnson as Lions offensive coordinator

Johnson split his four head coaching interviews between two days, with the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders on his docket for Friday with the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars to follow on Saturday.

After removing himself from the interview process in each of the previous two years, it's hardly guaranteed Johnson leaves the Lions for a head coaching job this time around (or ever, possibly). He is right to be selective, and intentional in terms of only interviewing for jobs he would actually take.

But on the chance Johnson does leave, Dan Campbell will of course have to replace him. It's also fair to assume Campbell is preparing for the possibility Johnson leaves, and as a tentacle of that Johnson will have (and surely has had) great communication with his current boss regarding where he is in term of taking a head coaching job this year.

So let's get down the brass tacks of who could replace Johnson if he does leave for a head coaching job, and it is a big 'if' until shown otherwise.

5 potential candidates to replace Ben Johnson as Lions' offensive coordinator

5. Tanner Engstrand

Current Job: Lions Passing Game Coordinator

Engstrand has had a similar track as Johnson over his time as a Lions' assistant, going from offensive assistant (2020), to offensive quality control coach (2021) to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator (2022) to passing game coordinator the past two seasons.

The 42-year old has a long coaching resume, going back to 2005 as a grad assistant under Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego. He was at that school until 2017, serving as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach over his final five seasons.

Engstrand reunited with Harbaugh as an offensive analyst at Michigan in 2018. In 2020, he served as offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the DC Defenders in that iteration of the XFL.

If not for the real possibility of following Johnson elsewhere to become his offensive coordinator, Engstrand would be higher on this list. In any case, he is undeniably a rising star.

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4. Pete Carmichael

Current Job: Denver Broncos Senior Offensive Assistant

Carmichael is near the end of his first season as a senior offensive assistant in Denver, back under Sean Payton, his long-time boss with the New Orleans Saints.

Carmichael came to New Orleans in 2006 to be the quarterbacks coach, and he was there through the 2023 season. He was the offensive coordinator from 2009 through last season, and a key figure in some of the best offenses in the league for many years when Drew Brees was the quarterback.

Brees retired after the 2020 season, and the Saints offense had a natural drop-off. Payton left after the first post-Brees year, leaving Carmichael as the play-caller for an increasingly talent-bare offense. His being fired obscures the fact the Saints had the ninth-best scoring offense in the league in 2023.

As should be obvious by this point, Carmichael's lengthy tenure in New Orleans means he overlapped with Campbell for five seasons (2016-2020) on Payton's staff there. That familiarity could at least foster an interview for the offensive coordinator post in Detroit if Johnson departs.

3. Ronald Curry
Current job: Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach

The cleaning out of the offensive staff in New Orleans after the 2023 season led to Curry landing in Buffalo as the quarterbacks coach. He had spent eight seasons with the Saints (2016-2023), as a general offensive assistant, wide receivers coach and quarterbacks coach before adding passing game coordinator to his title for his last two years there.

Last year, with the ever-mediocre Derek Carr under center and nothing consistent other than Chris Olave at wide receiver, the Saints were top-12 in the league in passing touchdowns (28) and adjusted yards per attempt (7.1). As passing game coordinator, Curry deserves some credit for that.

Like Carmichael, Curry has history with Campbell from back on Payton's staff in New Orleans. He has never been an offensive coordinator or a play caller before, but if Johnson leaves the Lions an interview to replace him could come Curry's way.

2. Hank Fraley

Current job: Lions offensive line coach

Fraley reportedly interviewed for the offensive coordinator job with the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, with a report about the interview adding he was doing some ground work to find a passing game coordinator he would pair with.

If Johnson had left for a head coaching job a year ago, one in-particular really, there was some buzz Fraley would have followed him there to be the offensive coordinator. If he doesn't take an offensive coordinator job elsewhere this year, or follow Johnson to wherever he goes if he leaves, Fraley could easily become the Lions' new offensive coordinator.

1. Scottie Montgomery

Current job: Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach

Montgomery has garnered tons of respect in the Lions' building virtually from the moment he arrived to replace Duce Staley as assistant head coach and running backs coach. He has gotten a look to two for offensive coordinator jobs elsewhere, including one weirdly right after the Lions hired him, and head coaching interviews may not be too far behind (none so far in this cycle though).

Montgomery has a uniquely broad coaching resume, starting at his alma mater in 2006.

Duke-Wide receivers coach (2006-2009)
Pittsburgh Steelers-Wide receivers coach (2010-2012)
Duke-Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/passing game/wide receivers coach (2013)
Duke-Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2014-2015)
East Carolina, Head coach (2016-2018)
Maryland-Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2019-2020)
Indianapolis Colts-Running backs coach (2021-2022)
Detroit Lions-Associate head coach/running backs coach (2023-)

If Johnson leaves, which again is a massive 'if', Montgomery is an automatic top candidate to be promoted to offensive coordinator. In the light of certain context and possibilities outside of him, he's the No. 1 candidate to replace Johnson right now.