2025 NFL Coaching Carousel: With Lions Out, Ben Johnson Enters the Open Market

Good morning and welcome to the Monday after Black Monday which, unlike years past, contains almost as much intrigue as the main event (we say intrigue from a fan sense, while also noting that the Monday after the regular season ends is often one of the worst days of many peoples’ careers). Because the Detroit Lions lost to the Washington Commanders in one of the most stunning playoff upsets in recent history, both of the Lions’ sought-after coordinators, who were driving the conversation when it comes to the head coaching search of multiple teams, can now conduct more thorough in-person interviews.

At this point, it seems as good an opportunity as ever to recalibrate our initial best guesses when it comes to which coaches will land where. I will start with my sense of the market at this very moment: I think that, as I write this, much of the world is waiting on Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. I get the sense that Johnson will be very deliberate during the next few days. He remains Plan A in at least two different places and possibly three.

While the dynamics of the post have changed, we were correct in our assertion that this is truly the Johnson sweepstakes. Whether Johnson ends up being good, luring him will be a true test of ownership strength and financial commitment.

With that in mind, and with the full understanding that everything could change on a dime—remember that Johnson turned down overtures from both the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and the Washington Commanders in ’23 after feeling the sting of a championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers—here’s our best guess as to how next week will play out.

An additional note: Kliff Kingsbury is not interviewing until the end of the season. Kingsbury saw his star rise through 2024, stemming from his work with Jayden Daniels, and especially into the playoffs. I would consider him a looming figure, though with so many of these teams eager to get moving, I wonder how many are willing to allow the cycle to pass them by to wait for the Commanders to finish their season. And, in that regard, would Kingsbury be interested in the remnants of this cycle, given that he vowed to become more selective his second time around?

Dallas Cowboys

Plan A: Generate as much attention as humanly possible and then hire Kellen Moore.

Plan B: Robert Saleh

Could the Cowboys get involved at the upper crust of this coaching search? Who knows. Jerry Jones has his modus operandi and, as we predicted when the Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy, he was going to open up this coaching search. Moore provides Jones with familiarity—it bolsters his pipeline and Moore would not be surprised in any way by the rigors of the job. It also likely gives Jones the chance to add some familiar faces to the staff. All that said, I think Saleh has displayed an ability to bring an adult-in-the-room vibe to clearly chaotic situations. The defensive personnel would love him in Dallas.