Ben Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022 after spending three seasons with the Lions in multiple roles on the coaching staff. He came to Detroit in 2019, as an offensive quality control coach, and was heavily involved in the passing game during Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell's first season in Detroit.
"I think Ben's a rock star, man," Campbell said. "He's a young guy, but he's kind of gone a little longer, harder road to get to where he's at. He's been around some really good coaches, now, some guys who have coached some pretty good quarterbacks. Just being around Mike Sherman when I was with him down there (in Miami). Joe Philbin, who was with (Aaron) Rodgers. Then he's with (Adam) Gase, who had (Peyton) Manning and those guys. So he understands quarterback play well. He was with Zac Taylor, who was with me in Miami. We were all together there in Miami. So, he understands it well."
Detroit's offensive production under Johnson in 2022 ranks among some of the best numbers the club has ever registered in a single season as a franchise. The group played a pivotal role in the team's record turnaround, winning eight of the last 10 games of the season. The 2022 season marked the first time in franchise history that Detroit accumulated 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in the same season. It also served as the second-best franchise performance in terms of total net yards, total touchdowns scored, points scored and first downs gained. Additionally, in Johnson's first season leading the offense, Detroit recorded its third-most yards per play average in a season, and tied for the least amount of turnovers the franchise has had in a single season.
Detroit's offense also ranked near the top of the NFL in several major categories, finishing the 2022 season ranked fifth in points per game, fourth in total offense, fourth in red zone efficiency, and first in giveaways. The Lions scored 30 or more points in eight games in 2022, tied for the most in the NFL, while establishing a new franchise record for the most 30-point games in a single season. With Johnson's assistance, four players were named to the Pro Bowl including C Frank Ragnow, T Penei Sewell, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and QB Jared Goff. It marked the first time Detroit had four offensive players in the Pro Bowl since 1971.
Goff was able to experience considerable success within the offense. He was amongst the top QBs in the NFL as Detroit rallied to win eight of the final 10 games, while taking exceptional care of the football. Since Week 10 of the 2022 season, Goff was the only NFL quarterback to attempt at least 100 passes and not throw an interception. The streak marked the first time in Goff's career that he went nine-straight starts without an interception. Goff concluded the 2022 season having attempted 324 consecutive passes without an interception, which ranks as the fifth-longest streak in NFL history. Goff also established new franchise records in 2022 in TD/INT ratio (4.14) and interception rate (1.2%) while tying for the best passer rating in team history (99.3).
Under Johnson's guidance, former Lions RB Jamaal Williams reached career milestones within Detroit's offense. The Lions running backs lead the NFL in rushing TDs among a team's running backs corps in 2022. In the process, Williams set a new franchise single-season record with 17 rushing TDs in 2022. The team also ran for 100-or-more yards in 13 games in Johnson's first season calling plays. It marked the most games with at least 100 rushing yards since producing 14 games with 100-plus yards in 1997.
In 2020, Johnson helped guide second-year TE T.J. Hockenson to his first-career Pro Bowl after posting 67 receptions for 723 yards (10.8 avg.) and six TDs. Hockenson became just the fifth tight end in franchise history to earn Pro Bowl honors and the first since 1999. Among all NFL tight ends, Hockenson ranked in the top five in receiving yards (3rd), receiving 1st downs (3rd) and receptions (4th).
Prior to joining Detroit, he was promoted to the Dolphins wide receivers coach in 2018 where he helped WR Albert Wilson average the second-most yards after catch (12.9) in the NFL and the fifth-highest yards per target (11.2).
In 2017, Johnson helped WR Jarvis Landry catch a Dolphins franchise-record and an NFL-high 112 receptions. Landry also earned Pro Bowl recognition for the third consecutive season and caught a career-high nine touchdown passes.
In Johnson's first season as assistant wide receivers coach in 2016, he helped the Dolphins win 10 games and earn their first playoff berth since 2008. Johnson coached Landry to 94 receptions for 1,136 yards (12.1 avg.) and four TDs, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Landry's 94 receptions were fourth in single-season Dolphins history and his 1,136 receiving yards were eighth.
From 2013-15 Johnson served as the team's assistant quarterbacks coach and in 2015 was promoted to the tight ends coach during the season. In 2014, Johnson helped QB Ryan Tannehill finish with 4,045 passing yards, joining QB Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in Dolphins history to surpass 4,000 yards in a season. Tannehill passed for 4,208 passing yards in 2015 and steadily improved his passing yardage in all four of his NFL seasons with Johnson coaching his position.
In 2012, Johnson started with the Dolphins as an offensive assistant coach and helped an offense that finished fourth in the AFC in rushing touchdowns (15).
Johnson joined the Miami Dolphins after spending three years (2009-11) at Boston College. He spent his final season as tight ends coach after spending his first two seasons as a graduate assistant.
