Jaguars could face a massive roadblock in potential pursuit of Ben Johnson

The Jacksonville Jaguars could be in the market for a head coach in 2025 if they dismiss Doug Pederson. One of the hottest candidates to replace him in the next hiring cycle will be Ben Johnson. Earlier this year, the Jags saw firsthand how good he was when he scored 52 points on them. For that reason, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator should be at the top of their wish list, but there's one thing that could prevent them from luring him.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Week 14's Thursday Night Football that Johnson won't be interviewing for just any job. He'll discuss openings that he'll have a realistic chance to fill and will want to be on the same page as the general manager. Analysts speculate that Johnson was sending a message to the Chicago Bears, and that could be true.

Just recently, executive Kevin Warren said they plan to keep general manager Ryan Poles to conduct their search for a head coach after dismissing Matt Eberflus. Johnson may not want part of that. Perhaps he will only take the job if Chicago brings in someone he feels comfortable with. That could be either Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew or senior personnel executive John Dorsey.

Either way, Johnson is in a position to make the demands he thinks will help them land in the best possible situation. With the Lions, he's overseeing one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. Similarly, he's responsible for developing players such as wide receiver Amon Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. If that wasn't enough, Jared Goff has enjoyed a career revival in Detroit and Johnson has most definitely played a role in it.

The bottom line is that Johnson will want to land with a team where he doesn't think management or ownership will be an issue, and that's understandable. If a club meddles with his approach, his chances of succeeding will decrease.

The Jaguars may not appeal Ben Johnson due to the presence of Trent Baalke

It's fair to say that if Ben Johnson doesn't want to work for the Chicago Bears unless they have a general manager he's comfortable with, the same will apply to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trent Baalke has a reputation for being difficult to work with, and there's no guarantee the team will move on from him next year.

Back in 2022, Byron Leftwich was a candidate to fill the Jags' head coaching vacancy but ultimately withdrew his name because he didn't want to be paired up with Baalke. Something similar could happen with Johnson. Why would he even bother to interview if Jacksonville isn't willing to accommodate his demands?

Keep in mind that Johnson isn't asking for kingmaker powers. Simply, he wants to work with someone who shares his vision. If the Jacksonville Jaguars ultimately choose to pursue him, they'll need to consider that. Otherwise, they'll need to look somewhere else for Doug Pederson's potential replacement.

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