While Mike Vrabel’s name has been thrown around quite a bit in the day since the Patriots fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, there may be another big name on New England’s radar for the job.
The Patriots have requested to speak with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for their head coaching position, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.
Johnson will have his interview with the team this week and the Bears are also reportedly interested in the 38-year-old for their vacant head coach position.
“He is interested in those jobs, he has been intrigued by the Bears’ job for some time, and now that the Patriots’ job with Drake Maye at quarterback has become available, that is certainly a possibility to monitor,” Pelissero said during a segment on NFL Network.
Vrabel, who played in New England, has yet to be officially linked to an interview with the Patriots.
Johnson is viewed as one of the top coaching prospects and has been a name that has popped up over the past two offseasons when coaching positions have become available.
He’s been credited with helping to turn the Lions offense into one of the top units in the league and finished the regular season with 564 total points, which was fifth most in the NFL.
Johnson interviewed for the Commanders, Seahawks, Panthers, Falcons and Chargers jobs last year, but opted to return to the Lions in the end.
The Patriots fired Mayo after just one season at the helm, which saw the team finish 4-13.
He was let go shortly after the Pats won their season finale over the Bills on Sunday.
“I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said at news conference on Monday. “I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league, he just needed more time before taking the job. In the end, I’m a fan of this team first, and now, I have to go out and find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully championships.”