The Falcons have sent out the pigeons around the league, shelling out more than a handful of requests to interview prospective candidates. This begins a series where I profile each coach who has received a request, beginning with the hottest name of the cycle — Ben Johnson.
Falcons head coach candidate: Ben Johnson
Like a lot of bright offensive minds, Johnson is going to be highly coveted this offseason. He began his career in the sport as a quarterback at North Carolina, which ironically is where Arthur Smith played college ball. The pair’s time actually overlapped.
Johnson went on to take a role as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Boston College before entering the NFL in 2012 with the Dolphins, where he spent seven seasons as an offensive assistant, assistant quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach and wide receivers coach.
He’d go on to join the Lions in 2019 and has worked his way up the coaching staff, beginning as an offensive quality control coach to a tight ends coach to the passing game coordinator to the title he holds now, offensive coordinator.
He’s completely rejuvenated Jared Goff‘s career, helping the former No. 2 overall pick back to elite territory among the league’s quarterbacks. What’s most enticing about Ben Johnson in Atlanta is the work he’s done with Detriot’s skill position group.
There’s an uncanny resemblance between the Falcons and Lions skill group. I’d even argue that much of the Lions’ success is tied to their offensive coordinator. The defense is underwhelming, ranking in the bottom half of the league in most metrics, and Dan Campbell isn’t some mastermind Xs and Os guy; he’s a ra-ra head coach. Ben Johnson is the prize.
Detroit’s offense ranks third in yards per game (394.8) — fifth in rushing (135.9) and second in passing (258.9) — and fifth in points per game (27.1). The Falcons, an underachieving offense with plenty of talent, have no reason not to be mentioned in the same breath as the top offenses in the league.
Ben Johnson would certainly help this group realize its full potential, but there’s no debating one thing, the club still needs a quarterback. Jared Goff is a far cry from the best in the league; however, he’s still playing like a top 10 quarterback. The Falcons might not be able to trade up for one of Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, but Johnson should be able to squeeze everything out of whoever they end up with.
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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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