After the news Johnson was staying with the Lions, Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy acknowledged the speculation that may be coming.
Coming up:
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 30, 2024
12 months of speculation connecting Ben Johnson to the Eagles, Cowboys and (post-Reid) Chiefs jobs
On that note....
4. Philadelphia Eagles
It seems Nick Sirianni was given an ultimatum by owner Jeffrey Lurie after the Eagles collapsed late in the season. Remodel your coaching staff, or be gone. So Sirianni cleaned house to save himself, where there are indications his predecessor Doug Pederson wouldn't.
But Sirianni is undeniably on some level of the hot seat going into next season. His "confidence" the issues that surfaced at the end of this season will get fixed have to be backed up by results. The Eagles apparently had Bill Belichick on their radar if Sirianni didn't return, and Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal (appearing on 98.5 The Sports Hub) suggested Belichick will remain on the radar if next season goes poorly.
"Probably the most interesting thing that I've heard, and again this is just Senior Bowl rumor mill, is that the Eagles were very interested in Belichick if things didn't work out with Nick Sirianni and they could be at the front of the line if things again go poorly for him next year," Bedard said."
If Johnson was (rightly so) hesitant to work for Panthers' owner David Tepper, Lurie is not all that much different-just with better results for his team. But the Eagles are a definite possibility if Sirianni is gone after next season.
3. Dallas Cowboys
Failing being able to land Belichick, or maybe Jim Harbaugh, the Cowboys decided to stick with Mike McCarthy as their head coach. But McCarthy will not be given a contract extension, and entering the final year of his contract owner Jerry Jones has openly said next season is an "all-in" season.
Belichick also lingers as a candidate to replace McCarthy in Dallas come 2025, with Jones acknowledging he could work with the former Patriots' head coach. But since Jimmy Johnson left Dallas, it's been a rare coach who has wanted influence over the football operations that Jones clearly reigns over as owner and GM. If Belichick wants that kind of say, he probably won't want the Cowboys if he has other options. And that leaves out Jones loving the limelight and the credit like he does.
Shy of a possible pursuit of/landing Belichick if McCarthy is gone, Johnson could see an appealing situation in Dallas for 2025 and he's more in line with the type of coach Jones would want.