The Detroit Lions generated plenty of momentum during the 2023 season. After a strong finish in 2022, coach Dan Campbell built on that success and led the organization to a historic season.
A big part of that success was the performance of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has struck up a fantastic partnership with Jared Goff and guided the Lions to elite production.
Johnson has drawn his fair share of praise, and was most recently named one of the league's best play-callers by Pro Football Network. On their most recent rankings of NFL play-callers, Johnson ranked fourth overall and first among offensive coordinators.
Under his command, the Lions ranked third in total yards and fifth in scoring average. He was a coveted commodity on the head coaching market before he elected to pass on opportunities and return to Detroit for the 2024 campaign.
"Ben Johnson’s schematic creativity — evidenced by his willingness to deploy virtually every run concept under the sun — was part of what made him an attractive head coaching candidate over the past two offseasons," wrote Dallas Robinson. "The Lions couldn’t be happier that Johnson turned down overtures, enabling him to return for a third season in Detroit."
The three coaches ranked ahead of Johnson were all head coaches. Andy Reid of Kansas City was first, San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan was second and Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams ranked third.
Here are other storylines surrounding the Lions on Feb. 20.
- Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr ranked the Lions second in his latest NFL power rankings, behind only the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs.
- The Athletic assembled a big board for the NFL Draft, examining a number of prospects the Lions could target in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. Among those listed were Alabama's Dallas Turner and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
- USA Today ranked the Lions fourth on their list of teams who have potential to make major progress in the 2024 offseason.
- Sports Illustrated stated one move each NFC North team should make in the 2024 offseason. For the Lions, writer Gilberto Manzano suggested the team sign a cornerback, either Jaylon Johnson or L'Jarius Sneed, in free agency.
More must-reads: