The 2024-25 NFL season is about to wrap up with the Super Bowl taking place on Sunday, February 9, with the Kansas City Chiefs going up against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
The Lions, of course, didn’t make it to the big game, but plenty of Lions players and staffers were at the NFL Honors on Thursday, February 6.
Unfortunately, one of the Lions’ top staffers won at the NFL Honors, but it’s a staffer who’s long gone.
Former Lions Name Wins Big at NFL Honors
Ben Johnson was with the Detroit Lions from 2019 through 2025, with him taking on the offensive coordinator’s run with the Lions starting in 2022. His Lions run was so successful that it scored him a head coaching gig with the Chicago Bears.
Now, Johnson has been named the 2024 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. It wasn’t a small win, either, as Johnson took the honor with a lopsided 364 points and 29 first-place votes.
While the Lions should have some pride in Johnson getting honors, it kind of pours salt in the wound of Johnson not only leaving the Lions for a head coaching opportunity but also going to a rival in the NFC North. Losing a coach who’s so respected that he won the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year by a landside feels good and bad at the same time.
Behind Johnson on the tally were Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores with 143 points and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, now the head coach of the New York Jets, with 110 points. Rounding out the top five were Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with 109 points and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady with 73 points.
Detroit led the NFL’s offense this season with 33.2 points per game. They were also second in yards per game at 409.5.
With the Chicago Bears, Johnson will help train second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the top pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Johnson famously trained Lions quarterback Jared Goff and has helped Goff play the best football of his career in the Motor City.
