Each and every team in the National Football League with an opening at head coach has some level of interest in current Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Not only does that include the Las Vegas Raiders, but thanks to Tom Brady, no team has been more aggressive in their pursuit for the 38-year-old than the Silver and Black have.
As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, the Raiders are “enamored” with Johnson; Brady in particular, who continues recruiting the Lions offensive play-caller to lead Sin City’s coaching ranks.
Las Vegas had an interview with Johnson on Friday, in addition to an interview with Detroit’s defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Since, it has been a fully-concentrated effort by Las Vegas’ ownership group to get Johnson to stay in the building for an extended period of time.
What happens next?
Over the next week or two, not much of anything. It’s playoffs time for the Detroit Lions, and that means Ben Johnson has a job to do before he sets out on his next venture–should he elect to do so.
As per the NFL’s rules, Johnson is ineligible to do any amount of interviews until, at the earliest, next Monday.
Should Detroit finds themselves out of the playoffs prior to this year’s Conference Championship weekend, the six-year Lions coach will once again be able to take on interviews starting Monday, January 20th. However, should Detroit earn a victory this weekend, Johnson will have to wait until the 27th to continue interviewing.
In the meantime, all the Raiders – and Raider Nation – can do is wait.
More head coach options for the Las Vegas Raiders
Johnson is the coach who Sin City has at the top of their list, but the team has additional interests. Aside from the Detroit coordinators on both sides of the ball, the Raiders are curious about what Super Bowl winning head coach Pete Carroll can do for the franchise.
Carroll is a coach who Las Vegas has had eyes for some time, officially interviewing the 73-year-old on Monday. In the event Johnson either stays with the Lions or takes a head coaching job elsewhere, Carroll may wind up being the Raiders’ go-to man.
The Silver and Black are interested in a few AFC West coaches who they’re already somewhat familiar with as well.
Steve Spagnuolo, the Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator, is one of the coaches who Las Vegas has requested to interview. Additionally, the team has requested to interview Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for their head coach job.
Although Mike Vrabel is now off the market, the Raiders do still have their eye on a currently available coach. Robert Saleh, the four-year New York Jets head coach, will be interviewing with Mark Davis and company on Thursday.
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is among those who the Raiders have requested to interview, too.
While there was buzz around Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen and Las Vegas, there’s been no interview request thus far.
As Tampa Bay is now out of the playoffs, there are no time restrictions on when Coen can interview. If there’s any interest at all in Coen from Sin City, an interview should take place in the near future. Until then, there’s nothing on that front.
*Top Photo: Stephen Maturen/ Getty Images
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