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Patriots reportedly set to interview Lions OC Ben Johnson on Friday
Johnson has led a dynamic Detroit offense over the last three seasons, with the Lions entering this postseason first in the league in points (564).
Just a day after the Patriots are set to interview Mike Vrabel for their head-coaching position, New England will reportedly meet with arguably the most intriguing candidate in this offseason’s coaching carousel.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots are set to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Friday. New England first requested an opportunity to interview Johnson on Monday, less than 24 hours after the team fired Jerod Mayo as head coach.
The Patriots already confirmed in-person interviews with former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and longtime NFL assistant coach Pep Hamilton on Tuesday, with Vrabel reportedly set to meet with New England on Thursday.
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Johnson’s meeting with New England will be virtual, as Johnson or any coach whose team in the playoffs can’t meet in person until their team is eliminated.
As such, New England might have to wait weeks if it wants to make a serious push for a second interview with Johnson — considering the Lions are viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
While The Athletic noted on Wednesday that Vrabel is considered the “front-runner” for the Patriots’ head-coaching vacancy, a young, offensive-minded coach like Johnson might offer the highest ceiling among potential hires.
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Johnson, 38, has seen his stock soar among NFL coaching circles since taking over as offensive coordinator of the Lions in 2022. He has led a dynamic Detroit offense over the last three seasons, with the Lions entering this postseason first in the league in points (564).
While Detroit averaged 33.2 points per game this season, the Patriots have yet to surpass 30 points in a single game since 2022.
Even if New England doesn’t boast the same talent as Detroit on the offensive side of the ball (especially on the offensive line and at wide receiver), the opportunity to work with a talented QB like Drake Maye has reportedly intrigued Johnson.
“Johnson and Maye are former University of North Carolina quarterbacks, but they don’t have a pre-existing relationship, though Johnson has been a fan of Maye’s from afar,” The Athletic’s Chad Graff wrote on Wednesday.
Even if New England doesn’t land its reported top target in Vrabel, Johnson isn’t exactly a guaranteed fall-back option — given his coveted status across the league.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Johnson is also expected to hold virtual interviews with the Bears and Jaguars this week.
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