Lions OC Ben Johnson’s agent pushes back on $15 million salary report as coaching searches loom

Ben Johnson should emerge as a popular head coaching candidate this offseason, but his agent pushed back on a report that the Lions’ offensive coordinator will demand a $15 million salary — or more — from the team that selects him to fill its vacancy.

CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported earlier Thursday that “I’m told personnel around the league are discussing their awareness that some Owners have been told #Lions OC Ben Johnson’s asking price is at least or around $15M/year for a head coach job, per source.”

Johnson’s agent then called out the report on social media.

“I’m told personnel around the league are discussing their awareness that there is no asking price or demand and this tweet is 100% false and irresponsible reporting, per source,” Richmond Flowers III, Johnson’s agent, wrote on X.

Johnson, who has been with the Lions since starting as an offensive quality control coach in 2019 before becoming the offensive coordinate last year, has served as the architect behind a unit averaging the third-most yards (394.4), fifth-most points (27.3) and the second-most rushing yards (140.9) per game this season.

When asked this week about speculation surrounding his name as a coaching candidate, Johnson instead answered by saying reporters should ask Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn these same questions.

“He’s gonna be a phenomenal head football coach when he gets the opportunity,” Johnson said and then added he’s just focused on the Lions’ matchup with the Vikings on Sunday.

Johnson interviewed with the Texans and the Colts for coaching their vacancies last offseason — following his first campaign as offensive coordinator — and had another interview scheduled with the Panthers, according to The Athletic, but Johnson opted to return to Detroit, reuniting with head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff for another season.

There are already three teams with interim coaches and potential vacancies — the Panthers, Chargers and Raiders — before the end of the regular season, and it’s possible that the Commanders and Patriots could end up needing new head coaches, too.

But if a team paid him $15 million, Johnson would become just the fifth active NFL coach to meet or surpass that threshold, joining the Rams’ Sean McVay ($15 million), the Seahawks’ Pete Carroll ($15 million), the Broncos’ Sean Payton ($18 million) and the Patriots’ Bill Belichick ($25 million).