Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is obviously a hot head coaching candidate, so much so he’s the current betting favorite for two jobs.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson picked up steam as a head coaching candidate during the season, and that has come to fruition with three interviews within about 10 days of the season ending. He talked to the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Coltsl late last week, and on Wednesday he’ll interview with the Carolina Panthers.
Last Sunday, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported Johnson has the lead for the Panthers job–days before his interview even happens. So that he has landed with good betting odds to get that job isn’t a surprise.
Via Covers.com–odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Tuesday.
"Carolina Panthers next coach oddsBen Johnson: +200Shane Streichen: +400(Interim HC)Steve Wilks: +500Mike Kafka: +750Sean Payton: +900Frank Reich: +1000DeMeco Ryans: +1200Jim Caldwell: +2000Kellen Moore: +2000"
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson the betting favorite for another head coaching job too
From DraftKings Sportsbook, and again via Covers, Johnson is the betting favorite for one of the head coaching jobs he has interviewed for.
"Indianapolis Colts next coach oddsBen Johnson: +350Eric Bieniemy: +400Leslie Frazier: +550DeMeco Ryans: +750Dan Quinn: +750Raheem Morris: +1000Shane Steichen: +1200Jeff Saturday: +1200Ejiro Evero: +1200"
Johnson also lands with the second-best odds for the Houston Texans job (+350, behind Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, +225). Going further, as of Tuesday on DraftKings Sportsbook, he has the sixth-best odds for the Arizona Cardinals job (+1200) and tied for the 10th-best odds for the Denver Broncos job (+3000).
Of course Johnson has not yet interviewed for those latter two jobs in Arizona and Denver, though one could still be requested by and scheduled with one or both. Now that Arizona has hired a general manager, former Titans executive Monti Ossenfort, their head coaching search is set to ramp up.
Note: Betting odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.