The next NFL heading coaching cycle is only a few months away, and the biggest names potentially on the market are starting to roll in.
As of this writing, there are only three open positions in the league: The Los Angeles Chargers, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Carolina Panthers.
But there could certainly be more with the season winding down and a few teams potentially looking for new leadership.
One of the biggest names on the market could be Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was a candidate for the Panthers job this past summer before deciding to remain with his team.
Johnson reportedly wants at least $15 million per year to become a head coach, though, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.
I’m told personnel around the league are discussing their awareness that some Owners have been told #Lions OC Ben Johnson’s asking price is at least or around $15M/year for a head coach job, per source. pic.twitter.com/uhX3eqsNQR
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 21, 2023
That’s a lot of money, but it’s not an outrageous ask for a head coaching candidate.
However, it would rank among the highest-paid yearly salaries in the NFL right out of the gate, according to Sportico.
Only Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots ($25 million) and Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos ($18 million) would be the only head coaches to make more, while Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks and Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams would be making the same as Johnson’s reported request.
The biggest difference between Johnson and all four of those coaches is that they all have Super Bowl rings and a wealth of head coaching experience.
Johnson, meanwhile, would be in the first year of his first-ever job running a team.
So while he’s coached the Lions to become one of the best offenses in the NFL, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll translate at the head job.
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