NFL coaching roundup: Lions assistants candidates for top jobs

 

[January 09, 2024]  Names of assistant coaches who could make the rounds in interviews for NFL head coach openings began to emerge Monday, with three playoff-bound assistants topping the list.

The Washington Commanders, who fired coach Ron Rivera on Monday, reportedly requested permission from the Detroit Lions to interview offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Reports also said they asked for the OK to talk to Raheem Morris, the DC of the Los Angeles Rams.

"Both of those guys are more than worthy to be head coach candidates," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday about Johnson and Glenn. "But until then, they're with us."

All three assistants work for teams in the NFL playoffs, meaning they can interview virtually after this weekend's wild-card round, but the interviews need to be conducted before the divisional round on Jan. 21.

The Lions and Rams will meet Sunday night in Detroit.

Johnson has been credited as the architect of an offense that led the Lions to a 12-5 record and their first division title in 30 years.

Glenn was named the best defensive coordinator in the NFL in a survey released last week by the NFL Players Association.

Morris has head coaching experience and a 21-38 record with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-11) and Atlanta Falcons (2020).

In other NFL news involving assistant coaches:

--The Carolina Panthers named nine candidates for their vacant head-coaching position that they requested permission to interview.

The list included two names reportedly on the Commanders' list -- Lions OC Ben Johnson and Rams DC Raheem Morris -- along with two Baltimore Ravens coordinators, Todd Monken (offensive) and Mike Macdonald (defensive).

The list also features perennial candidate Dan Quinn, currently the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator; up-and-coming Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik; Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith; and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales.

Owner David Tepper fired Frank Reich after the Panthers started the season 1-10. Carolina also fired general manager Scott Fitterer earlier Monday.

--Multiple assistant coaches are leaving the New York Giants, including defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, according to multiple media reports.

Head coach Brian Daboll confirmed Monday at a joint press conference with general manager Joe Schoen the team had split with offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey.

But hours later, the exodus had widened to include Martindale and others.

Daboll confirmed running backs coach Jeff Nixon has been hired as offensive coordinator at Syracuse.

"I respect both of those guys (Johnson and McGaughey) and their commitment to the team. But we wanted to make a change," Daboll said.

Daboll said at his morning media session he expected his coordinators -- Martindale and Mike Kafka (offense) -- to be back.

Martindale's hand-picked outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins, who are brothers, were also fired, according to The Athletic.

--Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said in his season wrap-up news conference that he does not anticipate any significant changes to his coaching staff.

That applies to defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, whom he was asked about specifically. Bradley was heavily criticized for sticking with a base Cover-3 zone in a loss to Houston in the Week 18 regular-season finale because of Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud's strong production against that scheme this season.

"I believe in continuity," Steichen said. "I've got a ton of confidence in Gus."

The Colts' defensive line tallied 51 sacks this season, the most since the franchise relocated to Indianapolis in 1984.

--Fox Sports reported that the Jacksonville Jaguars dismissed defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, with NFL Network adding that Caldwell's defensive staff was fired as well.

Caldwell's two seasons in Jacksonville marked his first defensive coordinator job. Before that, he was on the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive staff from 2008-12, rising to linebackers coach in 2011. He coached inside linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals (2013-14), New York Jets (2015-18) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-21).

The Jaguars finished the season 22nd in the NFL in total defense (342.8 yards per game allowed) and 17th in scoring defense (21.8 ppg).

After a promising start, the Jaguars went 1-5 over the final six weeks to finish 9-8, losing their grip on the AFC South and missing the playoffs.

--Field Level Media

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