Johnson is the Patriots’ first known requested interview.
Less than 24 hours after firing head coach Jerod Mayo, the New England Patriots have sent out their first interview request in the search for his successor. As first reported by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the team has asked the Detroit Lions to speak to offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Johnson, 38, has been with the Lions since 2019. First starting out in quality control, he worked his way up to tight ends coach and pass game coordinator. In 2022, he was named the team’s offensive coordinator.
Under his leadership, the Lions led the NFL in scoring this season, averaging 33.2 points per game; the Patriots, for comparison, ranked 30th with a 17.0-point average. Outside of its league-leading productivity, his offense also stood out due to its creative play designs and its use of trick plays and unorthodox formations.
Before arriving in Detroit, Johnson also spent time at Boston College and with the Miami Dolphins.
The Patriots announced parting ways with Mayo less than two hours after their season finale against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. He led the team to a 4-13 record in his lone season as head coach.