Where Do the Lions Go from Here? Is That It for Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn?
“I have to drink the game,” Dan Campbell said in response to how he plans to spend the Bye Week with his football-obsessed personality. Rather than turning the engine off, he explained, we need to keep it “idle”. The schedule for the bye, however, included a full weekend off for players, coaches, and staff. Many of whom used the time to catch up on some much-needed rest - and some that did not.
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn each interviewed for more than three teams during the time off, some for the same position. When it came time to execute their respective units last Saturday, their squads appeared unfamiliarly lost. The defense gave up 45 points, the second most they had all year, and the offense finished with an astounding four turnovers. This includes a trick play with wide receiver Jameson Williams throwing into double coverage resulting in great field position for Washington.
While no major player for the Lions is set for free agency this offseason, the coordinators for Detroit could be gone sooner than expected. This Lions team had Super Bowl aspirations for much of the year, but we are three weeks away from the big game and their 2024 campaign has already come to an end, because of that, Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, and any other assistant coaches for the team can leave whenever they get an offer. Johnson has made it clear he will only take a head coaching job somewhere if he is guaranteed play-calling responsibilities and full control of the roster - demands that are not necessarily met easily in today’s NFL. Glenn, meanwhile, has been more flexible. As it was first reported to the New York Post, Aaron Glenn has made it clear to people around him that he will take a job with the New York Jets given the offer - no questions asked.
The future of the Detroit Lions remains unclear. Fans felt like the team this year only got better from a season ago with the additions of, Terrion Arnold, and Kevin Zeitler. They are part of the reason Detroit improved to a 15-2 record and the coveted number-one seed. It felt like a step backward, however, losing in the divisional round after an NFC Championship berth last year in a close loss against the 49ers in San Francisco. Dan Campbell often teaches about the need to seize the moment rather than look ahead. As he and his team take an early exit in this year’s playoffs, it feels like Campbell and company will have no choice.
