For the third time in 5 years, the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for a brand new head coach.
Large Cat Nation’s Jaguars head coach hiring course of tracker is continually being up to date — however to offer extra info on the highest candidates being interviewed, we’ll be releasing in-depth profiles all through the search.
First up: Ben Johnson, who has a digital interview with Jacksonville scheduled for Saturday.
Picture by Mike Mulholland/Getty Photographs
Expertise
Johnson was a walk-on quarterback at North Carolina, the place he graduated with levels in arithmetic and laptop science in 2008. He was employed as a graduate assistant at Boston School the next yr and was promoted to tight ends coach the yr after.
The previous Tar Heel made it to the NFL in 2012 when he was employed as an offensive assistant with the Dolphins. Johnson served in numerous assistant coach roles in Miami till 2019 when he was employed in Detroit.
After starting as an offensive high quality management coach, Johnson was promoted to tight ends coach in 2020, then passing sport coordinator in 2021, then offensive coordinator in 2022.
Since then, no offense has scored extra factors or gained extra yards than Johnson’s Lions.
Efficiency
2024 Lions offense
- Factors per sport: 33.2 (1st)
- First downs per sport: 24.1 (1st)
- Yards per sport: 409.5 (2nd)
- Yards per play: 6.2 (2nd)
- EPA per play: 0.155 (third)
- Success charge: 49.6% (1st)
Passing offense
- Complete touchdowns: 39 (4th)
- First downs per sport: 14.2 (2nd)
- Yards per sport: 263.2 (2nd)
- Yards per try: 8.6 (2nd)
- EPA per play: 0.267 (third)
- Success charge: 53.6% (1st)
Dashing offense
- Complete touchdowns: 29 (2nd)
- First downs per sport: 8.5 (4th)
- Yards per sport: 146.4 (sixth)
- Yards per try: 4.7 (sixth)
- EPA per play: 0.021 (fifth)
- Success charge: 44.8% (4th)
Situational offense
- Early down EPA per play: 0.101 (third)
- Early down success charge: 49.1% (1st)
- Late down EPA per play: 0.351 (third)
- Late down success charge: 51.4% (fifth)
- Landing charge within the crimson zone: 69.4% (third)
Quotes
How Ben Johnson Mounted Jared Goff and Grew to become the Subsequent Large Factor in NFL Teaching
From Ben Solak for The Ringer (August 2023)
Johnson is aware of that particulars make or break offenses on this league, not due to those he’s seen made, however due to those he’s seen damaged—from the seven disappointing years in Miami with completely different techniques to Goff’s first yr in Detroit. “I’ve seen it fail so much,” Johnson says. “I’ve tried to keep away from any of the pitfalls I’ve seen in my teaching profession. From the communication standpoint, the remainder of the coaches perceive precisely what we’re attempting to do. They usually’re in a position to get that to the gamers.”
Unraveling the various influences on Ben Johnson and the Detroit Lions’ offensive scheme
From Justin Rogers for The Detroit Information (Sept. 2023)
With the Dolphins, Johnson crossed paths with the likes of Al Saunders, Mike Martz, Invoice Lazor, Adam Gase, Mike Sherman, Clyde Christensen and Zac Taylor. That’s a staggering effectively of expertise throughout an expanse of schematic backgrounds. … And Johnson readily took one thing from all of them. Sherman hammered dwelling the worth of tempo with a no-huddle element to his offense, whereas Lazor and Christensen refined Johnson’s worth on particulars. … Lastly, from Gase, Johnson developed a greater understanding of sport planning, significantly learn how to assault an opponent’s weak spot, which was the coach’s specialty.
The rise of Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
From Eric Woodyard for ESPN (Sept. 2023)
“The best way he’s explaining the performs, the way in which he’s detailed with how we’ve bought to run these routes within the crimson zone, I simply knew the way in which he was speaking to us, it simply felt completely different,” St. Brown recalled. “I informed certainly one of my teammates, I forgot who it was, I used to be like, ‘Bro, when Ben will get up there, he is aware of precisely what he’s speaking about, he’s telling us what he sees on this play, what he desires us to do. There’s no grey space. It’s tremendous detailed.’”
Why Ben Johnson is atop the teaching want record
From Tyler Dunne for Go Lengthy (Jan. 2024)
“A gifted communicator,” Blough says. “His complete profession has simply been based in exhausting work the place he’s been the grinder simply his complete time and he’s not afraid to be inventive. So he maximizes his guys’ skill-sets after which permits them to go and play quick due to the way in which he communicates the small print. His reward is unquestionably speaking particulars.”
Head Coach Candidate Profile: Ben Johnson
From Mark Bullock for Bullock’s Movie Room (Jan. 2024)
One other factor that stood out to me with Johnson was how he designed packages of performs particular to the ability units of his particular person gamers. One instance of this might be with receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown is a really shifty receiver with nice route operating skill as he could make sharp and swift cuts out and in of his breaks. This makes him an enormous risk outdoors but additionally within the slot or in condensed formations the place he has house to work outdoors or over the center. Johnson has doe a terrific job making use of that expertise, designing packages of performs particularly for St. Brown.
Who Are the Finest Up-and-Coming NFL Head Teaching Candidates?
From Diante Lee for The Ringer (Nov. 2024)
As a result of this offense can bend defenses to its will within the run sport, Johnson’s early-down play-action calls within the passing sport usually appear to be straightforward cash. However his play designs are nearly as good as any you’ll see on tape every week. The Lions are sixth in anticipated factors added on first-down passes and first in play-action throws.
2025 NFL Coach Carousel: The Ben Johnson Sweepstakes Is About to Start
From Conor Orr for Sports activities Illustrated (Jan. 2025)
For many who always ask why we hear a lot about Johnson, the reason being that he’s adequate to fully maintain up the hiring course of and, concurrently, adequate to name the Lions all the way in which to the Tremendous Bowl. He’s safe sufficient to know that he doesn’t should succumb to strain and take a job. He’s sufficient of a curiosity that at the least one, however doubtless extra groups, will complicate the method to see whether or not they can lure him in.
Obvious pluses
- As Lee detailed, Johnson’s defining teaching attribute is popping first downs into extra first downs. Detroit averaged the fewest yards-to-go on third down of any offense this yr as a result of they dominated on early downs. Solely 4 different groups in league historical past had extra first downs than the 2024 Lions — fairly attractive for a fanbase with a “Transfer these chains!” chant.
- Johnson is all concerning the particulars. The quotes part ought to’ve made that clear but it surely’s additionally evident on tape. The actual fact he cannot simply design, however educate the small nuances of a number of schemes he wasn’t raised in is spectacular. His trick performs stand out not simply because they’re enjoyable however as a result of they appear really easy. In the meantime, it felt just like the Jaguars had extra turnovers than first downs each time they bought cute with play designs below Doug Pederson.
- Jared Goff was an afterthought within the 2021 commerce that noticed Matthew Stafford depart Detroit. Nevertheless, no different quarterback has thrown for extra yards or touchdowns since Johnson grew to become playcaller in 2022. Goff at the moment ranks fifth in MVP voting, and his profession revival is arguably the largest optimistic on Johnson’s resume.
- Johnson (39 in Might) will probably be among the many NFL’s youngest coaches as soon as employed. That’s superb contemplating Jacksonville’s long-term outlook with 25-year-old Trevor Lawrence and 22-year-old Brian Thomas Jr.
Lingering questions
- Is Johnson head coach materials? His continued success in Detroit (and continued reputation as a candidate) suggests Johnson is prepared for his shot. Nonetheless, not each coach is lower out to be the chief chief of knowledgeable crew, and he’s by no means been a head coach at any stage. Johnson must show himself, even when there’s little proof to counsel he’ll fail.
- Can Johnson lead a locker room? This query falls below the bucket of “Is he head coach materials?” which incorporates managing employees hires, in-game selections, media requests, and so forth. — one other duty is establishing and sustaining a tradition. Johnson should show he can captivate each participant and coach within the group, not simply the fellows he’s calling performs for.
- How a lot of his success is because of the offensive line? Detroit has boasted an elite unit up entrance since Johnson was promoted as coordinator. He isn’t being carried by the offensive line, but it surely actually helps to have an excellent one, particularly in his scheme that begins with a various run sport. Johnson has elevated his playmakers as a lot as the opposite manner round, although.
- Would Johnson be prepared to work with Trent Baalke? A number of nationwide reporters have voiced issues over the attractiveness of Jacksonville’s head coach opening with Baalke nonetheless on the town. There have been lots of rumors flying round, however one factor that’s identified is that Baalke just isn’t extensively revered across the league. Johnson declining the job due to Shad Khan’s worry of a contemporary begin would definitely be one thing.