'Did a Hell of a Job for Us': Why Ben Johnson Is In Line to Become Lions OC

Dan Campbell will interview a couple of candidates to become the Lions' next offensive coordinator.

One year ago, Ben Johnson was just like any other position coach in the Detroit Lions organization. 

Fast forward a year, and he’s now being considered to take over as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the team was considering its tight ends coach for the potential promotion during a media session in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl.

Detroit’s coaching staff is leading the American squad in Mobile, but Campbell is serving in an advisory role while running backs coach Duce Staley serves as the head coach. Johnson, meanwhile, is serving as the offensive coordinator for the team filled with prospects.

While Johnson will be considered, he’s not a lock for the job. Campbell said the plan for the team is to cast a net and weigh its options.

“Ben is certainly in this conversation, and I’ve started the process this week,” Campbell said. “I’ll have interviewed, I’m not gonna leave you names, but at least a couple by the time I leave Mobile.”

Campbell is uncertain as to whether or not he’ll be the one officially calling plays next season. Former offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn called plays for the first nine games, but Campbell took over play-calling duties in Week 10.

Detroit’s head coach has said he wants to do what’s best for the team as far as calling plays goes, meaning he’s willing to relinquish the duty. 

“Look, it could be,” Campbell said. “Certainly, that would be out there. Look, it would, there again, I think everything’s got to start with, I think somewhat, me deciding what I want to do and, ‘Do I want to continue to call?’ Want to is not the right word. It’s what I think is best for us and as a team, and I need time to think about that. Now, I will say this, Ben Johnson did a hell of a job for us. I will say that and kind of leave it at that, if you will.”

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After taking over, Campbell eventually let Johnson put his hands on the playbook and worked with him to design the passing game. This change led to the offense becoming increasingly productive as the season went on, including a season-ending win over Green Bay in which the offense produced 404 total yards of offense.

During that final turn of the season, rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged as a budding star. In each of the Lions’ final six games, the rookie finished with double-digit targets and at least eight catches, while also running the ball a total of seven times for 61 yards and a touchdown.

The increased workload eventually led to St. Brown setting the Lions' rookie receiving yards record. 

The team was forced to play without starting quarterback Jared Goff on three separate occasions during Johnson’s stretch helping out in the passing game, and the team suffered losses in each game. But, Goff himself looked much more comfortable after the switch.

In his final five games, the first-year Lions QB threw for 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. During that time, Detroit beat a pair of playoff teams in Arizona and Green Bay, although the latter played the second half without a number of its starters.

Johnson first joined the staff as an offensive quality control coach, before being promoted to tight ends coach in 2020. After overseeing a Pro Bowl-caliber season from young tight end T.J. Hockenson, Johnson was retained despite the coaching change, and stayed on staff with Campbell.

Coming into 2021, he was set in his role as tight ends coach. However, his role grew as the season progressed. When Lynn was demoted, he stepped in to help do the job.

He’s serving as the offensive coordinator for the team’s week in Mobile, which can be an evaluation period for Campbell and company.

“I look at its an opportunity, and it’s an opportunity to evaluate these guys in those type of roles,” Campbell said. “And not just them. Our other coaches are coaching up too, where we can do it…Those guys like that, how are they when the room is theirs now, and the unit is theirs? I look at this as: How comfortable are those guys? And how they do with that much authority and continue to grow.”

The Lions will be in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl until kickoff of the game, which is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Their opponents from the National squad are being coached by the New York Jets.