NFL rumors: Team executives were flying to meet Ben Johnson when he withdrew from the Commanders HC race.
Dan Quinn is the new head coach of the Washington Commanders, and the team is naturally welcoming him as one of the men tasked with guiding the team out of the basement and back into the postseason. However, the journey to the country’s capital was undoubtedly not an easy one.
It could even be said that he had “up in the air” chances of getting the job. Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, was a front-runner for the job before he withdrew. There may be some residual tension between him and the Commanders due to the precise moment and method he allegedly decided to make that decision.
While traveling to Detroit, Michigan, for a meeting with Johnson regarding the head coach position, organization executives reportedly learned of Johnson’s intention to remain with the Lions. A senior executive from a different team told Ben Standig and Dianna Russini of The Athletic, “I get a feeling he still thinks he needs time.” “Who knows? However, it was a bad idea to change their minds while they were still in the air.
How will the NFL view Ben Johnson of the Lions moving forward?
After helping the Lions revamp their offense over the previous two seasons, Johnson emerged as the golden boy of the 2024 coaching carousel. Despite having a quarterback room beset by extreme uncertainty, Washington is almost certain to select a quarterback in the April draft. The 37-year-old was a wise pick to assist in shaping the franchise’s future face.
He isn’t prepared to leave Detroit, though. In 2025, he might be in the running for more desirable jobs after making that long-awaited Super Bowl appearance or going on another deep postseason run. But, Johnson’s reputation within the NFL could suffer if he rejects the Commanders on their way to meet him.
“Absurd.” Quite ridiculous, according to a league source. That’s not the way you do business. It’s the way you destroy your credibility. Despite his notorious breakup with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, Josh McDaniels was eventually given another chance to lead the Las Vegas Raiders as head coach a few years later.
Who’s to say Ben Johnson can’t keep the shine coming from his headset during the offseason? He didn’t swear allegiance to the Commanders. Hopefully, he will have more time to polish his communication skills as an offensive coordinator for this extra year.
Sportswriter Alex House is at ease covering a wide range of sports. He was born and raised in a heavily sports-fancied area of Connecticut ,and he attended the University of Rhode Island to get his journalism degree. Having intimate knowledge of two of the nation’s most fervent and boisterous fan bases, he has a genuinely distinctive writing style.
