ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter disagrees with some of the rumors surrounding Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Johnson is one of the most desirable head coach candidates. The 38-year-old spoke with four teams that have (had) a head coach vacancy (Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots). The Patriots have since hired Mike Vrabel. Johnson is also expected to talk with the Dallas Cowboys, who parted ways with Mike McCarthy this week.
But the job to which Johnson has been linked most is the Raiders one. There was even a recent report saying there is a lot of momentum building for Johnson to take the Raiders job.
Schefter appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday and said he would not favor Johnson to take the Raiders job over any of the other ones at this moment.
“I know everybody’s got Ben Johnson anointed to the Raiders. I’m not in that camp right now. I like to believe it before I see it,” Schefter said on the show. “But why is everyone ignoring Chicago when it comes to Ben Johnson. Why has that been dispelled?”
The Bears could be desirable because it would allow a coach to work with Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
Schefter noted that Johnson is picky about where he goes and pointed out the challenges of what the AFC West entails, considering the Chargers, Broncos and Chiefs all have proven head coaches and quarterbacks (for the most part). Given the way the teams in the NFC North have played this season, taking the Bears job might not be any better for Johnson.
Schefter is not saying Johnson won’t take the Raiders job, he just doesn’t think it’s the lock it’s currently being made out to be.
You can listen to Schefter’s comments:
"I know everybody has Ben Johnson anointed to the Raiders but I'm not in that camp right now..
I don't know where he's gonna go but he's gonna have three realistic options..
Why is everybody ignoring Chicago when it comes to Ben Johnson" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/oFuvEbdGrz
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 17, 2025
