Panthers to interview Brian Johnson for head coaching job
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 29: Philadelphia Eagles coach Brian Johnson looks on during the NFC Championship Game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on January 29, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire)
Eagles’ offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is expected to interview for the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching job, according to Adam Schefter.
I am not joking.
The 36-year-old is in his first year as Eagles offensive coordinator after spending the previous two seasons as quarterbacks coach.
“All of my focus is about this week,” Johnson said shortly after news of the expected interview came out. “We’ve got a great opportunity with a special group of people to go out there and put on a great performance against Tampa Bay. And that’s where our focus and energy is at the moment.”
Johnson will not be able to interview for a head coaching job until next week.
In addition to the head coaching search, the Panthers are also looking to fill their general manager position. They have requested to interview Eagles’ assistant general manager Alec Halaby for that job, NFL Network reported. The Panthers’ job became vacant when Frank Reich was fired during the season. Reich was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator from 2016-17 and won a Super Bowl before taking the head coaching job in Indianapolis.
The Eagles were forced to replace both of their NFC Champion coordinators from 2022 when both Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon left for head coaching jobs with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, respectively. The Eagles promoted Johnson and brought in Sean Desai for the defensive gig, who has since been demoted.
While it made sense to elevate Johnson from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, the Eagles’ offense has not been practically as good in 2023. This is Johnson’s first season in the NFL as a play-caller and he has been pretty bad at it, to put it sufficiently. He has been nowhere close to as good of a play-caller as Steichen was.
Why a team would hire him? I am not sure.
