Seahawks head coach candidates: Offense
8 prospective head coaching candidates who have an offensive background: Seaside Joe 1775
Ben Johnson, Lions
Setting personality aside, if there’s a “next Dan Campbell” it has to be Detroit’s offensive coordinator and arguably the hottest name on the interview circuit over the past two years. Johnson opted to decline head coaching interviews after last season, stating that he wanted to stay with the Lions because he didn’t want to “ruin a good thing”.
But maybe it would be more accurate to say that Johnson sensed that the Carolina Panthers job was as doomed as it turned out to be for Frank Reich. That makes Johnson no less than a smart man who decided not to chase more money and a promotion when he could instead be patient and get better offers, which is a rarity in this or any industry.
Johnson’s been following Campbell since 2012, when he was a 25-year-old offensive assistant on the Dolphins. He replaced Campbell as tight ends coach in 2015, after Miami fired Joe Philbin and promoted Campbell to interim. The Dolphins retained Johnson with the next regime and then he was hired by Matt Patricia for an offensive position with the Lions beginning in 2019. As fate would have it, the Lions hired Campbell as head coach in 2021 and then Campbell slowly started the process of firing his initial hire as OC, Anthony Lynn, in favor of more duties for Johnson.
The Lions improved from 25th to 5th in scoring in Ben Johnson’s first season as OC, and they were 5th again this season: 2nd in passing yards, 5th in rushing yards, 3rd in net yards per pass attempt, 5th in yards per carry, 4th in points per drive, 5th in DVOA. Might I add that his quarterback is Jared Goff.
Flashback: When the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson and the rest of the world was focused on names like Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan, and yes, Colin Kaepernick, my #1 choice for a replacement was Jared Goff. It just turns out that the Lions really liked Goff, even though nobody else did.
If you’re looking for the Seahawks to hire someone who could enhance Geno Smith like he did for Goff, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the next Amon-Ra St. Brown, there really is no second choice to Johnson. If the Seahawks actually hire Ben Johnson, that’s when we could get into the fact that Seattle still needs a top-5 offensive line like they have in Detroit, but based purely on the longstanding dream that many fans have to hire an elite offensive playcaller this pretty much IS the guy to fulfill that.
By the way, I think it is IMPERATIVE to hear a person talk when you’re considering hiring or drafting or signing them to be a part of your team. So I’ll add an interview/press conference to each candidate’s section.
Frank Smith, Dolphins
First of all, I’m always interested in people who have names that make you think, “How is there not already a famous guy with this name?” (Which includes Ben Johnson, come to think of it.) For Frank Smith, that’ll change in the near future when he is inevitably hired as a head coach.
Second of all, in polling players for who the best coordinators in the NFL are, Smith finished #1. Here’s the question: Can he call plays without Mike McDaniel? There’s always going to be mystery when talking about a guru’s righthand man without knowing if there’s any “guru” in the person himself. If you could just teach someone all your tricks, the Vic Fangio disciples tree would actually matter and the Eagles wouldn’t have such a terrible defense. Everybody wants what the Dolphins have, but is “what they have?” McDaniel or is it Tyreek Hill? And can Smith actually bring it to Seattle?
Smith was an offensive line assistant for Sean Payton from 2010-2014, then he became the Bears tight ends coach under John Fox (same staff as Clint Hurtt) for three years, then Jon Gruden hired him for the Raiders, and then Brandon Staley, who he knew from the Bears, gave him an opportunity as offensive line/run game coordinator in 2021. Austin Ekeler scored an NFL-high 20 touchdowns that season.
McDaniel hired him as his first offensive coordinator, even though he had never worked with him before, because he was impressed with stories of how Frank Smith is able to connect with players and help them be their “best selves”. That sounds a lot like a Pete Carroll coach. (Whether that’s positive or negative at this point, we’ll see.)
For all reasons the Dolphins might not win the Super Bowl this year, this is an offense with a Pro Bowl QB, an Offensive Player of the Year candidate at receiver, one RB who led the NFL in touchdowns and another RB who led the NFL in YPC, and a second 1,000-yard receiver even though Miami doesn’t have the best offensive line. And they might win the Super Bowl!
But the risk is that we have no idea to what degree Frank Smith is responsible for that success. Ironically, Darrell Bevell is the pass game coordinator and Smith may do no more than help him, McDaniel, and Tua Tagovailoa get prepared for Sundays. Is he so good at that job that he should be a HC?
You’re NOT a member of the Regular Joes club???
It’s only $5 per month or $55 per year! Enter the email: