Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell knows his current staff will not remain intact forever. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson sure to be in-demand for head coaching interviews again. It's not breaking news that Johnson will be selective in the process of considering his opportunities, to the point he probably won't interview for a job after the season unless he has some intent on taking it.
Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated, as part of a bigger look at head coaching candidates for 2025 and beyond, offered another less than revolutionary thought when it comes to head coaching openings that may have the most appeal to Johnson.
"I also would not be surprised if Johnson wants an ideal setup with a good roster, a patient owner and a quarterback he can win with."
-Connor Orr, SI.com
"A good roster, a patient owner and a quarterback he can win with." That sounds like a dream job, and the kind of situation that wouldn't be making a coaching change after this (or any?) season.
Related: 3 potential head coaching openings Ben Johnson might leave the Lions for in 2025
"Johnson’s options for jobs on this list pale in comparison to what he could inherit in Cincinnati. Having an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow would make the Bengals a dream destination if the team parts ways with Taylor. Johnson will probably have his pick of openings this offseason, and it’d be very hard to see him turning down a job in Cincinnati since it comes with Burrow. Winning in the AFC is tough, but Johnson could do that with this level of quarterback play. If the Bengals job doesn’t come open, it’s fair to wonder if Johnson stays in Detroit for another season. Taylor would probably have plenty of assistant offensive coaching offers. Could he return to the L.A. Rams?"
The Bengals head into their bye week at 4-7 on the season after a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11. They probably need to run the table to make the playoffs, and the two best players on the team turned up the heat on head coach Zac Taylor's seat after the loss to the Chargers.
Taylor is under contract through 2026, and Bengals owner Mike Brown does not like to pay coaches not to work for him. So any decision on what to do with Taylor comes with a stingy owner hanging over it, but what's trending toward just two playoff appearances over six seasons (and five seasons with Joe Burrow) is not good enough in most organizations. Should the Bengals finish with double-digit losses this season, with the roster they have, Taylor should be fired.
If Johnson leaves the Lions for a head coaching job, after this season or ever, having (or being able to get) a quarterback he can work with will be automatic. The Bengals have that in Burrow, and if the job in Cincinnati comes open it will be highly-coveted by candidates.
A good roster. A patient owner. A quarterback he can win with. The Bengals check all three of those boxes, even if Brown's patience is rooted in being cheap. There may be a looming No. 1 landing spot for Johnson after the season, if he wants a head coaching job of course.
