DC Sports

Lions OC Ben Johnson Wanted Sam Howell as His Starting Quarterback if He Accepted Washington’s Head Coach Position

By MCS Staff
Courtesy Rambling with Rio Robinson Podcast

At one point before this season began it appeared that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was going to be the next head coach of the Washington Commanders. Things broke down and the Commanders ended up hiring Dan Quinn– a move that seems to have worked out for both teams as Quinn went 12-5 with the Commanders and Johnson’s offense helped the lions to a 15-2 season. Commanders insider Lake Lewis Jr. recently joined Rio Robinson’s podcast to discuss what led to Johnson not being hired.

Lake Lewis, an NFL/Washington Commanders Insider and news anchor for ABC TV, stated the following on on a recent episode of Rambling with Rio Robinson, “Adam Peters and them were in route to Detroit for the interview. In conversation with Ben Johnson it was brought up that Ben Johnson still wanted Sam Howell. That’s who he wanted to be his quarterback for his offense. And you know there’s Carolina connections, all that stuff, and Adam Peters was like no because they know who they’re gonna draft and we all knew who they were gonna draft and um he didn’t want him. So if anybody should be upset it should be Jayden.”

The two teams now face off in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the right to participate in the NFC Championship game against the winner of the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles game. The Lions and their high powered offense are 8.5 point favorites against the “cardia” Commanders, who have used late game heroics to win recent games.

Ben Johnson remains one of the top NFL head coaching candidates, as his offense looks to continue to roll against the Commanders this Saturday night. Dan Quinn, the man who was hired instead, has helped the Commanders turn things around with their best regular season record since 1991 and their first playoff win in two decades. Sam Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks where he played in one game this season, going 5 for 14 for 24 yards and an interception.