Brian Johnson has now received three interview requests about head coaching jobs, moving from quarterbacks coach to this position in a year’s time. The Falcons announced Thursday they interviewed the first-year Eagles OC for their HC position.
This does come amid rumors Johnson is not certain to keep his own job after Philadelphia’s late-season swoon. The Eagles have not committed to retaining Nick Sirianni as head coach and even if the NFC championship-winning HC does stay, he could have two new coordinators in place for the 2024 season.
While it was easy to see the Eagles would have another new defensive coordinator next season, Johnson’s unit began to unravel in the 2023 campaign’s final weeks. This culminated in the team’s ugly loss to the Buccaneers on Monday night. Jalen Hurts entered the Philly-Tampa Bay game frustrated about the state of the offense. Hurts’ lengthy pre-Philadelphia history with Johnson, due to the latter being coached by Hurts’ father in high school, only made the Eagles’ offensive swoon stranger. The team undeniably missed Shane Steichen this season, though the drop-off on offense – third to seventh in scoring – was not nearly as visible as what took place post-Jonathan Gannon on defense.
The Falcons join the Panthers and Titans in being interested in Johnson, who just completed his third season as an NFL assistant. Dak Prescott‘s former QBs coach at Mississippi State, Johnson used the Florida OC position as a platform to land with the Eagles in 2021. Even with his position in Philly unstable, Johnson is receiving his first ride on the HC carousel.
Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how Atlanta’s Arthur Smith replacement effort looks:
- Bill Belichick, former head coach (Patriots): To conduct second interview
- Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/13
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed 1/14
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): Interviewed 1/16
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Brian Johnson, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/12
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To interview 1/20
- Antonio Pierce, interim head coach (Raiders): Interview requested
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Anthony Weaver, defensive line coach (Ravens): Interviewed 1/14
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/13
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