Ben Johnson decided not to accept a head coaching offer this offseason. The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was a hot name on the coaching market this past season. For good reason too, as the Lions won their first playoff game in 33 seasons and made the NFC Championship Game. Johnson’s decision to stay in Detroit certainly made an impact in the coaching circles. It’s reportedly now been revealed why Johnson decided to say no to the Washington Commanders.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported that Johnson held reservations about the Washington job.
“Was told that Ben Johnson was ‘turned off’ by Commanders ownership,” Laine said. She continued: “That they’re ‘basketball guys’ and felt they were a little too confident in their football opinions. And I also heard that he ‘didn’t interview well.’ He said, he said, but clearly not a good fit for both sides.”
Was told that Ben Johnson was "turned off" by Commanders ownership, that they're "basketball guys" and felt they were a little too confident in their football opinions. And I also heard that he "didn't interview well." He said, he said, but clearly not a good fit for both sides. https://t.co/negeevYsha
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) February 3, 2024
After this news emerged, though, some questioned it. Johnson notably interviewed twice for the open Washington job. So, if the reports were true that he didn’t “interview well,” some argued that it wouldn’t make sense because he interviewed twice. Why would he have gone twice, then?
Nonetheless, Washington still needs to fill that vacancy. It just won’t come from Ben Johnson. The pickings are slimming, but they’ll certainly have their decision sooner rather than later.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022