CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Will home cooking, and potentially gobs of money, be enough to bring Ben Johnson home?
The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is the hottest name on the NFL coaching market not named Bill Belichick, and should have options around the league to be a head coach.
What chance might the Panthers have to land him?
The team will reportedly interview Johnson virtually on Friday.
WCNC Charlotte Sports Director Nick Carboni recently spoke with Nolan Bianchi, the Lions beat writer for The Detroit News, about the possibility.
Johnson, 37, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and played high school football at AC Reynolds High School in Asheville. He was then a walk-on quarterback at North Carolina.
"There's a reason why his players call him a genius, it's because he is so involved," Bianchi said. "At every level of designing and deploying that offense, he has full and complete control of those things."
In two seasons as Detroit's coordinator, Johnson has guided the Lions to Top 10 finishes in points, total yards and passing yards both years.
"Whenever you gotta have it, gotta get in the endzone (the Lions do)," Bianchi said. "Those are things that kind of stick out to you."
He's helped former No. 1 pick Jared Goff to a career revival since joining the Lions, who won their first playoff game since the 1991 season and are one more win away from the NFC Championship game.
Many think he could rebuild the Panthers offense around Bryce Young, and build up the No. 1 pick's confidence.
"Bryce and Ben Johnson could be a good match because I do see them being able to deploy some of those same things with Bryce," Bianchi said.
But Johnson will likely have options for his first head coaching job, as the Commanders, Seahawks and Chargers have also shown interest.
A report a few weeks ago that said Johnson wanted $15 million per season in salary was quickly refuted by his agent, but perhaps it was leaked specifically with the Panthers in mind.
"I wonder if that was a number he gave specifically to Carolina because maybe the situation that has gone on there," Bianchi said. "I just don't know if Ben Johnson is going to be OK with being in an organization where he is being micromanaged. But at the same time, Tepper might offer the most, and there always is something about going home, so you never know."
Here is a list of coaches the Panthers have interviewed so far:
- Dave Canales, Bucs OC
- Bobby Slowik, Texans OC
- Brian Callahan, Bengals OC
- Dan Quinn, Cowboys DC
- Raheem Morris, Rams DC
- Frank Smith, Dolphins OC
- Todd Monken, Ravens OC
- Mike Macdonald, Ravens DC
- Ejiro Evero, Panthers DC
- Chris Tabor, Panthers Interim HC/Special Teams Coordinator