Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson surprised many when he withdrew his name from the Washington Commanders head coaching position. It was widely assumed that he was the favorite for the job. Reports suggest that Johnson’s contract demands deterred teams, including the Commanders. However, ESPN’s Jenna Laine provided another insight, stating that Johnson was not fond of the new Washington ownership group. He believed that they were too confident in their plans for the team. Laine tweeted, “Was told that Ben Johnson was ‘turned off’ by Commanders ownership, that they’re ‘basketball guys’ and felt they were a little too confident in their football opinions. And I also heard that he ‘didn’t interview well.’ He said, he said, but clearly not a good fit for both sides.”
The Commanders ownership group, led by Josh Harris, also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. Johnson’s assessment of the owners’ background is not far off. NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson is also a key member of the group, primarily involved in basketball operations. With Johnson out of the picture, the Commanders eventually hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who previously coached the Atlanta Falcons.
The decision of whether Johnson or the Commanders made the right choice remains to be seen. However, Washington has the opportunity to reshape their team with the No. 2 overall draft pick this spring. Quinn will be working with the player they select, likely a quarterback. The Commanders’ defense has suffered significant losses after trading away players like Chase Young and Montez Sweat earlier this year. On the other hand, Johnson will return to coach the Detroit offense, which had a strong performance in 2023.
