Title: Ben Johnson's Surging Interest in Joining the Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders might be getting a new head coach shortly, as they've been seriously considering Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The team has already interviewed Johnson, as well as other candidates from teams like the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets.
According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, there's a noticeable "momentum" building around Johnson joining the Raiders. The interview took place during the Lions' bye week in the wild card round of the playoffs. They can't make an official move until Detroit's season ends, which is set for their NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Washington Commanders.
Johnson, 38, is one of the top young offensive minds in the NFL. His work led to the Lions leading the league in scoring with 33.2 points per game during the regular season. Jared Goff also had an MVP-level performance under Johnson's guidance.
Hiring Johnson would be a fantastic move for the Raiders, especially since they're planning to hunt for a new franchise quarterback in the spring. His presence would provide a solid beginning to this process.
Johnson's Surge in Search for Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Job
The Raiders' search for a new head coach has been steady, with NFL legend and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady spearheading the process. Brady's involvement is believed to have boosted the Raiders' chances of landing Johnson, bringing much-needed credibility to the team.
Besides Johnson, the Raiders have interviewed Aaron Glenn, Liam Coen, Steve Spagnuolo, Robert Saleh, Todd Monken, and Pete Carroll to potentially replace fired head coach Antonio Pierce. In fact, Pete Carroll is currently being considered as the favorite if Johnson becomes unavailable.
The Impact of Johnson's Candidacy on the Las Vegas Raiders GM Search
The Raiders, having recently gotten rid of former GM Tom Telesco, are also on the lookout for a new general manager. Often, teams hire a new GM before securing a head coach. However, since Brady is taking the lead in this search, the usual process might not apply this time around.
The latest candidate to receive interest for the position is Sheldon White, currently the director of pro scouting for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other potential options include John Spytek, Jon-Eric Sullivan, and Brandon Brown.
If Johnson gets the head coach position, it might impact the GM search, as candidates like the Lions' assistant general manager Ray Agnew could be a part of the package deal for Johnson to join the Raiders.
Enrichment Insights:
- Johnson has had interviews with the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars in addition to the Raiders.
- Brady's involvement in the coaching search and his recruitment of Johnson are significant factors in the team's pursuit.
- The Raiders are currently in disarray, having fired head coach Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco after just one season.
- The team is in need of a quarterback and is considered a build rather than a fixer-upper.
- Other teams like the Chicago Bears are attempting to mimic the strategy employed by former Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, but it might affect Johnson's availability for the Raiders.
- Tom Brady, the NFL legend and Raiders minority owner, is reportedly boosting the Raiders' chances of securing Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach.
- Besides Johnson, the Raiders have interviewed other coaches like Aaron Glenn, Liam Coen, Steve Spagnuolo, Robert Saleh, Todd Monken, and Pete Carroll for the vacant position, with Carroll emerging as the favorite if Johnson is unavailable.
- Sheldon White, the director of pro scouting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is among the candidates being considered for the Raiders' vacant general manager position, a role typically filled before a head coach.
- If Ben Johnson secures the head coach position, potential GM candidates like the Lions' assistant general manager Ray Agnew could be part of a package deal to join the Raiders, influencing the GM search process.
