Ben Johnson will not be the next head coach of the Washington Commanders.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Johnson informed the Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks he will remain in Detroit for at least another year.
#Lions OC Ben Johnson informed the #Seahawks and #Commanders that he’s staying in Detroit, per sources.
Johnson is still only 37 and will be a hot head coaching candidate again next year. But first, he wants to take another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/lPg2Po33sx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2024
Johnson to Washington had been called a lock by some, a foregone conclusion by others. Essentially everyone in the NFL media world believed Johnson would end up in Washington — except Adam Schefter.
Schefter said the following Monday on an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I’m not convinced yet that Ben Johnson is getting the Commanders’ job,” Schefter said. “I know people have said that he is the presumptive favorite, and he may get the job; he very well may; he is in contention, but that is not a slam dunk at all right now. They are definitely looking at other people, as well. And again, they may come back to Ben Johnson, but I think that they are pretty impressed with (Ravens DC) Mike Macdonald, (Lions DC) Aaron Glenn and (Ravens AHC/DL coach) Anthony Weaver, as well. I think those guys are going to have a legitimate chance to get that job.”
The lesson here: Always trust Schefter.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interviewed with the Commanders on Tuesday morning in Ashburn. On Monday, Washington interviewed Ravens associate head coach/DL coach Anthony Weaver and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.