Falcons head coach candidate profile: Ben Johnson

The Falcons have made numerous requests to interview potential players, sending out the pigeons throughout the

league. I will be introducing each coach who has been requested in this series,

starting with the cycle’s hottest name, Ben Johnson.

Falcons head coach candidate: Ben Johnson

Johnson is going to be in great demand this offseason, much like a lot of talented offensive thinkers. Ironically, Arthur

Smith played collegiate football at North Carolina, where he started his career as a

quarterback. In actuality, the two’s times overlapped.

 

After serving as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Boston College, Johnson joined the Dolphins in 2012 and

worked as an offensive assistant, assistant quarterbacks coach, tight ends

coach, and wide receivers coach for seven seasons.

 

He later joined the Lions in 2019 and progressed through the coaching ranks, starting as an offensive quality control

coach and working his way up to tight ends coach and passing game

coordinator his current position as offensive coordinator.

Jared Goff, the former No. 2 overall pick, has had a dramatic turnaround in his career, propelling him back into the elite

category of quarterbacks in the game. The thing that has attracted me the most

to Ben Johnson in Atlanta is his work 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.

There’s no denying that Ben Johnson would help this team reach its greatest potential, but the team still needs a

quarterback. Jared Goff is still performing like a quarterback in the top

ten, even if he’s a long way from being the best in the NFL. Although the Falcons

might not be able to move up to acquire Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, Johnson

ought to be able to get the most out of the player they choose.