Not long ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were seen as the favorite to land Ben Johnson, the crown jewel of this hiring cycle. However, other clubs are doing their best to court the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, and it looks like the Las Vegas Raiders are gaining ground.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Johnson going to the Raiders is picking up steam, and one big reason is that minority owner Tom Brady has been heavily involved in the process.
"The Tom Brady factor in Las Vegas has given the Raiders an edge in attracting candidates they typically wouldn't land," Russini said. "His influence is a key draw, which is why coaches like Ben Johnson agreed to meet with them."
The Tom Brady factor in Las Vegas has given the Raiders an edge in attracting candidates they typically wouldn’t land. His influence is a key draw, which is why coaches like Ben Johnson agreed to meet with them.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 11, 2025
It's also worth noting that after ousting head coach Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas dismissed general manager Tom Telesco, paving the way for whatever executive Johnson wants to work with. That could ultimately seal the deal for the coaching candidate, as he had previously said that he wants to work with a general manager who's on the same page.
But even if the Raiders don't land Johnson, the Jags should most definitely worry about the New England Patriots. He met with them Friday, and it went well, according to Russini. She adds that the Pats are pushing for a quick resolution in their head-coaching search.
Lions OC Ben Johnson interviewed well with the Patriots but plans to meet with other teams. Meanwhile, the Patriots are pushing for a quick resolution to their HC search, per source. Many around the league expect a decision this weekend.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 11, 2025
This is to say that Ben Johnson isn't as much of a lock as NFL talking head Chad Forbes had previously suggested.
Why the Jaguars are losing ground to the Raiders
One of the biggest mistakes the Jacksonville Jaguars made in their search for a new head coach was keeping general manager Trent Baalke around. Due to his conflictive personality and less-than-stellar reputation around the league, it was believed that he would scare away candidates for the opening.
Granted, the Jags have lots of cap space, a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, and plenty of draft picks. In theory, that should make them an appealing destination for the hottest candidates. The issue is that all that is probably moot because of Baalke's presence. What's the point of having the resources you need if your general manager is going to constantly feud with you and make your job difficult?
Say what you want about the Raiders. They mishandled the firing of Antonio Pierce, and are a more dysfunctional franchise than Jacksonville. But getting to work with Tom Brady, and being given carte blanche to install your vision is something most candidates would love to have. Sure, Las Vegas has a worse roster than the Jaguars, but that doesn't matter. If Johnson (or whoever ends up filling their vacancy) brings in the right people, they can quickly turn things around.
Meanwhile, Baalke is looking for his third coach in five years. There's no doubt that Urban Meyer was toxic, and Doug Pederson also played a role in his own firing. Having said that, you have to recognize at one point that the general manager is holding the team back. Unfortunately, Shad Khan doesn't appear to be close to figuring it out.
Ultimately, this is a fluid process, and there's a chance the Jacksonville Jaguars end up hiring Ben Johnson. But if they don't, and he goes to Las Vegas instead, you can pin the blame on Shad Khan's insistence on keeping Trent Baalke around.