Ben Johnson, the Lions' offensive coordinator, is reportedly on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, despite previously passing on head coaching opportunities and his preference for teams with young quarterbacks.
Ben Johnson , the Lions ' offensive coordinator and a highly sought-after prospect in this year's NFL coaching cycle, is reportedly nearing a deal to become the Raiders ' next head coach. This development comes as a surprise, considering Johnson has been selective about his head-coaching opportunities, declining invitations in the past two offseasons when he was considered the frontrunner.
It was widely believed that Johnson preferred a team with a young, established quarterback, leading to speculation that the Bears with Caleb Williams and the Jaguars with Trevor Lawrence were his most likely destinations. The Raiders, however, lack that established quarterback presence, with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell primarily handling the offensive duties last season. Despite this, the Raiders hold the No. 6 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, which may have swayed Johnson's decision.Johnson recently interviewed with the Bears, Jaguars, and Raiders, with the Detroit Lions enjoying a bye week before their NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Commanders on Saturday. Johnson's success in revitalizing quarterback Jared Goff's career and transforming the Lions into one of the NFL's most potent offenses has undoubtedly played a significant role in the Raiders' pursuit. However, the team has yet to fulfill the Rooney Rule's requirement of interviewing two minority candidates in person. Johnson himself only conducted a virtual interview with the Raiders
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