Sunday turned out to be a very big day for Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
On the afternoon, he led the Lions' offense to 391 yards in a 31-23 win over Tampa Bay — securing Detroit's first NFC title game berth since the 1991 season.
The night after the win, one of the most popular candidates in this coaching cycle completed a virtual interview with the Atlanta Falcons at the team's coaching open house.
Johnson and the Falcons entered the interview directly so he could have a potential second interview with Detroit during the bye week between the conference title games and Super Bowl LVIII, should the Lions defeat San Francisco in the NFC title game and advance to the franchise's first Super Bowl.
In order to conduct a second interview, Johnson and the Falcons had to complete the initial interview by Sunday evening, which they did, with the club making an announcement just after 10 p.m. ET, saying Johnson had spoken with the club.
Johnson, 37, was the 13th candidate to interview with Atlanta after Arthur Smith was fired on Jan. 8. The 14th potential candidate, according to ESPN's Jeff Darlington, is former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who Darlington reported has an interview set up. this week.
Only one candidate so far, former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, has interviewed with Atlanta twice — but Belichick was one of two candidates eligible to meet with Atlanta in person before Monday, along with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
A source told ESPN on Saturday that the Falcons were planning to schedule a second interview with Harbaugh as well. A source familiar with Atlanta's search, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told ESPN on Saturday that the team's search for a coach remains “wide open.”
Starting Monday, any candidate working for an NFL team whose season has ended can interview for an open head coaching position. Among Atlanta's initial interviews, that means Belichick, Harbaugh, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina defensive coordinator Ejero Iveiro, Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Buffalo interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik They can all give interviews. Personally.
The Falcons will be able to interview Ben Johnson, Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, San Francisco defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes, Baltimore assistant coach Anthony Weaver and Ravens defensive coordinator Mike McDonald in the bye week if their teams reach the Super Bowl because they completed preliminary interviews with Atlanta before Jan. 22. .
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Falcons are interested in interviewing Callahan in person — which would mean a second interview for the coach who helped develop quarterbacks Joe Burrow in Cincinnati and Matthew Stafford when Stafford played for the Lions. Fowler also reported that Callahan is interviewing with the Titans on Monday and that the Panthers have also expressed interest in interviewing.
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