The Detroit Lions’ tremendous 2023 season made offensive coordinator Ben Johnson a hot head-coaching candidate. However, despite widespread interest, Johnson returned to Detroit for another season in 2024.
With his decision to stay and the Lions’ offense soaring even higher in 2024, how much money is Johnson making?
What Is Ben Johnson’s Salary?
Johnson, who’s just 38 years old, has been coaching since 2009. He started his career as a graduate assistant with Boston College from 2009-2010 before becoming the team’s tight ends coach in 2012.
Johnson got his first NFL opportunity as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2012. He subsequently spent 2013-2018 with the Dolphins, working up from assistant quarterbacks coach to wide receivers coach.
Johnson found his way to Detroit in 2019, initially working as an offensive quality control coach. He moved to tight ends coach from 2020-2021 and passing game coordinator in 2021. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022, where he made his name known.
The Lions had a top-five offense during the 2022 season, garnering lots of head-coach interest for Johnson. Despite that, he decided to stay. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Johnson received an enhanced contract and large raise to return to Detroit.
It’s unknown what exactly Johnson makes, but it is believed to be in the upper echelon of offensive coordinators. The average coordinator makes around $1.5 million a year, with the top guys being paid around $3-4 million. Head coaching jobs, on the other hand, earn usually $30+ million guaranteed.
In 2024, though, the decision wasn’t made because of money. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that his deal was not adjusted and that loyalty rather than money was Johnson’s primary motivation to return. Additionally, Johnson has another year remaining on his contract in Detroit beyond this season, though the Lions could adjust his contract down the line.
Johnson is expected once again to be an extremely popular head-coaching candidate during the upcoming offseason. However, it’s not a lock he will leave, as Schefter reported in early November that Johnson would be “very, very selective” about his head-coaching opportunities. This aligns with a report from Schefter over the offseason that Johnson’s asking price spooked many teams.
The Lions have arguably their best team in franchise history and certainly the Super Bowl era. Detroit has its best chance in a long time to reach its first Super Bowl appearance, and Johnson’s return has been a significant reason for the success of the 2024 team.