'Save me!! Ben Johnson."
That was one New York Jets fan's wish on Halloween night, begging for Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and play calling savant, to move to New York in 2025.
The fan attending Thursday Night Football between the Jets and Houston Texans had a brown paper bag over this head — Detroit fans are familiar with the look — with a "JETS ARE PLAYING BEWARE!!" written at the top. Below the two cutouts for eyes was scribbled the desperate message to Johnson.
Johnson nearly became the Washington Commanders head coach last January before pulling his name from consideration in order to "reap the rewards" with the Lions, after they came up achingly short of their first Super Bowl in January.
No, you may not have Ben Johnson.
— mags (@maggie_merren) November 1, 2024
Love,
One Pride pic.twitter.com/y6l84zMLJs
The Lions are atop the NFC at 6-1 nearing the midway point this season and on a five-game win streak, led by a dynamic offense that has scored at least 40 points in three of the past four games. Quarterback Jared Goff won NFC Offensive Player of the Month in October and is on a historic four-game stretch.
Johnson cannot take a new job until the Lions finish their season, which could be as late as Feb. 10, the day after Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. Hey, you never know.
Who is Ben Johnson on the Lions?
Johnson, age 38, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and attended high school in Asheville, North Carolina.
He was a walk-on reserve quarterback in college at North Carolina, and graduated in 2008 with a degree in mathematics and computer science.
He started his coaching career in 2009 at Boston College as a graduate assistant, then in 2012, jumped to the NFL with the Miami Dolphins as an offensive assistant under head coach Joe Philbin. Current Lions head coach Dan Campbell was also on the Dolphins staff, and Johnson and Campbell were together in Miami for four seasons, before Campbell went to New Orleans.
Johnson worked his way up to wide receivers coach in 2018 with the Dolphins, then was hired by Lions head coach Matt Patricia in 2019 to become an offensive quality control coach.
Johnson was the tight ends coach in 2020-21, staying on when Campbell was hired in 2021 as the new coach. Johnson added the passing game coordinator role during the 2021 season, when Campbell stripped Anthony Lynn of calling plays. Johnson helped the Lions win three of their final six games after starting the season 0-10-1.
Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2022 season, and his play-calling has helped quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions offense become one of the league's top units since.
Johnson was also considered a top coaching candidate after the 2022 season, but after interviewing with several teams, he opted to return to the Lions.
