6 potential head coaching jobs for Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in 2025

The level of surprise about it was pretty subjective, as the sheer number of openings dwindled, but Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pulled himself out of consideration for the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks' head coaching openings on Tuesday. He's staying in Detroit for another year.

The Lions are surely now in a one-season window to capitalize on Johnson's decision to again postponing taking a head coaching job. He won't postpone taking a head coaching job forever, in the name of loyalty or "unfinished business" in Detroit after losing the NFC Championship Game this year. There's nothing wrong with waiting for the right fit though, and Johnson will turn 38 in May.

Some media in Washington thinks Johnson did damage to his future head coaching prospects by letting the Commanders know he was staying when they were flying to Detroit (to meet with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn too, by the way). But Johnson handled his situation better than some others have when it comes to turning down a head coaching job.

On the assumption the Lions' offense remains one of the best in the league next season, and with all but three starters under contract right now there's no reason to think it won't be, Johnson will be a top head coaching candidate again in 2025. It's fair to say the Lions' postseason run this year impacted his candidacy for some jobs this year, but teams will wait to interview him.

Looking ahead to 2025, here are some head coaching jobs that could be in play for Johnson.

6 potential head coaching jobs for Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in 2025

6. New York Giants

The Giants had quite a fall from Year 1 to Year 2 under Brian Daboll, from 9-7-1 and a playoff win to 6-11. There have been reports of tension with now-former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, and broader indications that Daboll is hard to work for due to his volatile nature. He is on a warming seat looking toward next season no matter what, and the specter of Bill Belichick replacing him in 2025 sort of lingers over the situation now. Another double-digit loss season could bring his dismissal.

Johnson stands to land on at least a preliminary list of candidates for any head coaching opening that comes after next season. Diaboll is trending toward being gone, barring a shockingly good season along the lines of his first season. How much the Giants' job will be appealing if it's open, to Johnson or anyone else, will be the big question.

5. Chicago Bears

The Bears played pretty well late this season, so Matt Eberflus survived whatever speculation there was about his future as the head coach. The coaching staff around him has changed a lot though, and if that reshuffling doesn't bring better results next season eyes will be on Eberflus' job status again.

Since he's likely to have multiple options, and maybe some better ones, it feels somewhat unlikely that Johnson would leave the Lions to take a head coaching job with one of their division rivals. But the Bears are a team on the rise, and the job would appealing in that sense alone.

Maybe Johnson, with whoever they choose to be their long-term quarterback this offseason, can be the coach that take them over the hump.

After the news Johnson was staying with the Lions, Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy acknowledged the speculation that may be coming.

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.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Since 1969, the Steelers have had three head coaches (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin). But the end of Tomlin's time may be coming. Much is made of his never having a losing season in 17 seasons, but the Steelers also haven't won a playoff game since 2016. If Tomlin were available he'd have no trouble finding a new job, but sometimes things get stale and a change is needed.

Tomlin has said he expects a contract extension, entering the final year of his contract, and owner Art Rooney II has said it's a matter of time before it gets done. Time will tell.

For all the consternation about Matt Canada, Tomlin made a curious decision to hire former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as the Steelers' new offensive coordinator this week. If the hire of Smith doesn't work out, it could be the final straw for Tomlin.

If nothing else, being the Steelers' head coach is supreme and unrivaled job security for an NFL coach. If Tomlin is gone after next season, they should easily have interest in Johnson to replace him.

1. Buffalo Bills

After falling short in the playoffs again this year, and having been to just one AFC Championship Game in the last five years, it's worth wondering if the Bills' "Super Bowl window" has closed. This season's rally from 6-6 at the bye week to 11-6, winning the AFC East and winning a playoff game cooled the heat on head coach Sean McDermott. But it's not totally going away heading toward next season.

Even if the Bills win 10-12 games again next season, McDermott could be relieved of his duties if their postseason runs falls short yet again.

At some point the ceiling is the ceiling with a given coach in place, and McDermott is running out of reasons for Buffalo falling short of expectations that aren't him. Leslie Frazier mysteriously left his post as defensive coordinator after the 2022 season, especially in light of him interviewing for jobs now. Then McDermott made offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey a scapegoat after a bad loss to the Denver Broncos this year.

In Buffalo, should the job come open after next season, Johnson would get to work with quarterback Josh Allen and some nice pieces around him on the offensive side. So the job would be one he'd surely want, and the Bills should covet Johnson if they move on from McDermott.