Panthers coaching search: Lions OC Ben Johnson is staying in Detroit with Dan Campbell
Scratch another name off the Carolina Panthers’ coaching search list.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has informed the Panthers that he plans to stay in Detroit, a league source confirmed to The Observer on Tuesday. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report Johnson’s decision to remain with the Lions.
The Panthers requested permission to speak with Johnson last week. Owner David Tepper and the rest of the Panthers’ brain trust were expected to meet with Johnson in the coming days. Johnson previously met with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts about their respective head-coaching vacancies.
Johnson — who led the Lions’ top-five scoring offense this past season — is an A.C. Reynolds High School graduate with lifelong ties to the Carolinas. Johnson, an Asheville native, was a walk-on quarterback at the University North Carolina before turning to coaching. He has quickly risen up the NFL coaching ranks after beginning his career at Boston College as a graduate assistant in 2009.
With Johnson staying in Detroit, the Panthers will continue their search. The team had in-person interviews with interim head coach Steve Wilks, former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and former Colts head coach Frank Reich last week. The Panthers brass also virtually interviewed Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen on Saturday.
Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton told FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd that he will interview with the Panthers later this week in New York. Payton has already interviewed virtually with the Houston Texans and in person with the Denver Broncos.
The Panthers have requested permission to interview New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
However, according to Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Kafka won’t interview with other teams before Saturday’s divisional-round playoff matchup against the Eagles. Moore and Dorsey are also coaching playoff teams, but it is unclear if or when they’ll interview with the Panthers.
Johnson isn’t the first candidate to skip out on an interview with the Panthers. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo were both on the Panthers’ interview list, but neither is currently scheduled to meet with the team, a league source confirmed to the The Observer this past week.
The Panthers are coming off a 7-10 season that saw former head coach Matt Rhule get fired after a 1-4 start. Panthers players have openly campaigned for Wilks to be retained, while the Panthers’ brass has cast a wide net in its search for the sixth full-time head coach in team history.
This story was originally published January 17, 2023 at 8:27 PM.
