This weekend is going to be an incredibly busy one for Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has interviews for four different head coaching positions between Friday and Saturday. Oh, and his team just so happens to be hosting a Divisional Round game on Sunday.
Well, at least he can scratch the Carolina Panthers off his list—as Johnson officially completed his virtual interview with the team. He is now the 11th of the 12 known candidates to speak to the organization about their opening.
Carolina’s interest in the Carolina native can be traced back to last year’s hiring cycle—when Johnson, the perceived favorite of owner David Tepper, rose to popularity off an impressive 2022 campaign. The Charleston boy, however, opted to withdraw his name from all consideration to remain with the Lions for 2023.
That bet would pay off, as the 37-year-old orchestrated the NFL’s third-ranked offense—a step up from their No. 4 ranking a year ago. The Lions averaged 394.8 yards per game this season.
Johnson is also set to speak with the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.
