Tom Brady may have found his ideal candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders coaching vacancy.
Since firing head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday and general manager Tom Telesco on Thursday, the Raiders braintrust has been hard at work in finding their replacements.
When it comes to coaches, no stone has been left unturned. From interviewed candidates like former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll to unrealistic options like University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, the Raiders job has been surprisingly desirable.
However, if Brady has his way, the choice for the next head coach for the Raiders may already be determined.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Raiders have reportedly become enamored by Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
“He has quickly emerged as the candidate to watch for Las Vegas, as the Raiders — in a search that prominently includes limited partner Tom Brady — are willing to wait as long as it takes to secure their potential future head coach,” said Rapoport.
“Las Vegas is said to be enamored with Johnson, sources say.”
Johnson was one of the first interviews the Raiders conducted, holding a virtual interview with the coaching candidate on Friday.
While it is surprising to see Johnson express this much interest in the position, the influence of Brady is proving to be an excellent selling point.
“Yet thanks in part to the involvement of Brady, who sources say personally vouched for Johnson and implored him to take the interview through his agent, Johnson spoke with them,” continued Rapoport. “Essentially, Brady recruited Johnson to interview.”
Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is personally recruiting Lions OC Ben Johnson to become the next HC in Las Vegas, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/8yJviLkMt7
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 11, 2025
Johnson has become one of the most sought-after coaching candidates over the past few cycles, and his stock has only continued to grow. This season, under Johnson’s stewardship, the Lions lead the league with 33.2 points per game and rank second with 409.5 yards per game.
However, Johnson has also been particularly choosy about where he wants to go in his head-coaching career. Last season, he turned down both the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders to remain in Detroit.
The fact Johnson has progress this much with Las Vegas is a positive sign. If the Raiders can seal the deal, it would be a home run hire to get the offseason going.
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