NFL Trade Rumors: Following Ben Johnson’s decision, Seahawks expected to sign Giants OC Mike Kafka

Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson played a crucial role in the Detroit Lions’ historic success. He guided them to a record-breaking number of wins and secured their first postseason victories in over 30 years. His adept leadership has not only impressed football enthusiasts but has also garnered attention from unlikely quarters. Even rapper Eminem advocated for his continued association with the team.

Johnson has apparently chosen to remain with the Lions despite being a top head coaching candidate. He rejected offers from the Seahawks and others. The Seahawks, in turn, pivoted to Mike Kafka as their prospective new head coach.

Ben Johnson expected to stay at Lions

Ben Johnson has ultimately decided to stay with the Lions for the 2024 season. The announcement ended speculation about his potential departure for head coaching opportunities with the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. Reports earlier indicated that the veteran’s decision followed discussions with both teams, where his “asking price spooked some teams,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This isn’t the first time the coach has been in the running for head coaching roles. Last year, he interviewed with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts and was slated to meet with the Panthers. However, each time, the opportunity eluded him.

At first, Ben Johnson seemed like a potential choice to become the Commanders’ head coach. Since they had already been interviewed during the playoffs, a second meeting was set for this week. But in the end, that did not happen. The offensive coordinator had also looked into head coaching jobs with the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, and the Los Angeles Chargers, but those positions were already filled by other candidates.

Johnson has slowly moved up the coaching ranks since he started with the Lions in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach. His first job was as the team’s tight ends coach in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, he was given more duties as the passing game coordinator. Finally, the veteran was given the job of offensive coordinator in 2022, a post he will keep for the next season.

Seahawks rumored to sign Mike Kafka

There are reports going around that the Seattle Seahawks might hire Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, as their next head coach. Even if Mike Macdonald of the Baltimore Ravens is still the front-runner for the job, recruiting a coach away from a strong club like the Ravens has its own challenges.

According to seasoned Seahawks correspondent Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, ESPN’s Dan Graziano has alluded to the possibility of Kafka taking center stage.

The 36-year-old served as the Giants’ OC under the helm of head coach Brian Daboll for the past two seasons and has already proven his mettle. Under their leadership, the team rebounded from a lackluster 4-13 season in 2021 to an impressive 9-7-1 record in 2022. They even clinched a playoff berth for the first time in six years that season.

However, the Giants stumbled in 2023 after finishing with a disappointing 6-11 record. Despite this setback, Kafka’s potential is undeniable, and his track record speaks volumes about his ability to transform a team’s fortunes. The Seahawks’ abrupt departure from Pete Carroll opened the door to Kafka’s potential enrollment to fill his shoes.