The Cowboys might be getting a sneak peek at their next head coach when the Lions come to Dallas on Sunday. Week 6 doesn’t just offer a matchup of NFC playoff hopefuls, but it also delivers them a firsthand audition of the hottest coordinator in the NFL.
Ben Johnson, Detroit’s highly productive offensive coordinator, has fast become one of the most respected offensive minds in the NFL. He’s also a coveted head coach candidate who will likely headline a 2025 list of coaching prospects that includes the likes of Bill Belichick, Bobby Slowik and Mike Vrabel.
What Johnson lacks in experience he makes up for play design and innovation. After taking over their offense in 2022, Johnson elevated the Lions from 24th to sixth (in EPA) in his first season. He did so by simplifying reads for his quarterback, using heavy motion at the snap and mixing in play-action and RPOs along the way. While not a true disciple of the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, Johnson uses many of the same cheat codes that have been known to elevate offensive performance.
The Cowboys just so happen to be stumbling through the 2024 season with their entire coaching staff on expiring deals. After Mike McCarthy and company failed to get team over the proverbial playoff hump, they are a franchise positioned to reset in the leadership ranks. No one can definitively say what the future holds for McCarthy, but it stands to reason Johnson is a top a candidate to replace him as the Cowboys sit uncommitted.
The Cowboys seem to favor coaches with head coaching experience but aren’t necessarily married to it. Jason Garrett was a first time NFL head coach with Dallas, as was Dave Campo and Chan Gailey. Jerry Jones typically hires offensive minded coaches which gives someone like Johnson a leg up on candidates like Belichick and Vrabel.
In 2024 Johnson, once again, has his Lions offense sitting in the top five. They are an offense built around their line that features a well-balanced attack. They look for ways to open up their top receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown downfield and they make regular use of their stud tight end Sam LaPorta.
With CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys also have an elite WR in their ranks. They have a weaponized TE in Jake Ferguson and while their offensive line remains a work in progress, they are probably only a year of two behind Detroit in their development and degree of dominance.
The Lions are a far more talented offense, but the similarities are there and with Dak Prescott locked in for the foreseeable future, Dallas should be an attractive destination for an offensive head coach who could potentially have his pick of jobs this winter.
What Johnson has done for Jared Goff has been stunning. Thrown in as a salary dump of sorts in the Matthew Stafford trade, Goff wasn’t expected to be a long-term answer at the QB in Detroit, yet under Johnson, Goff has turned into a highly effective weapon. It’s tantalizing to think about what Johnson could do with someone like Prescott.
It’s safe to say the Joneses have a pretty good idea what the future hold for McCarthy. They likely have their eyes on a few possible replacements this season and it’s a pretty safe bet Johnson is one of those. On Sunday afternoon they get a firsthand look at that candidate, all from the comfort of the owner’s suite. It’s a perfect opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.
