DeMeco Ryan’s offensive coaching staff is getting a lot of attention from other teams looking to make new assistant hires.
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is a hot head-coaching candidate name already this offseason with several interviews after what he did with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Now, Stroud’s position coach could be poached with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints reportedly considering him as their next offensive coordinator, according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
Johnson, who was the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022 before he joined Ryans’ staff this season, interviewed with the Saints Monday and will speak with the Browns on Tuesday for their open positions. Quincy Avery, a personal coach who’s worked with Brown’s quarterback Deshaun Watson, endorsed Johnson a few times already this year, too.
Whether or not Johnson leaves will likely hinge on what happens to Slowik this offseason. Johnson would be the ideal offensive coordinator replacement if Slowik gets hired elsewhere – especially since Stroud said he’s known Johnson since he was 16 years old.
But if Slowik stays in Houston, Johnson could opt to take a promotion elsewhere.
So while it’s flattering to see so many of Ryan’s assistants get calls from other teams, losing either Slowik or Johnson – or both – could be detrimental to the development of Stroud following what was such a promising rookie season.