"Ben Johnson’s staying in Detroit confirmed" - NFL fans react as Patriots make massive Mike Vrabel HC decision

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel were at the top of the wishlist of all six NFL teams looking for a new head coach this offseason. Every franchise requested an interview with the duo, hoping to land one of the two.

While every front office coveted Johnson and Vrabel, they both were reportedly keen on joining the New England Patriots. The six-time Super Bowl champions were the best option of the six vacancies.

They have a franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, over $130 million in cap space, and an ambitious owner in Robert Kraft, who's willing to leave no stone unturned to ensure his new head coach had all the tools they needed to succeed.

Both Johnson and Vrabel interviewed for the role, but it was no secret that the team leaned towards the latter since their coaching hunt commenced. Unsurprisingly, on Saturday, reports emerged that the franchise was finalizing the process of hiring its former player to lead the team in 2025.

With the Patriots out of the picture, Johnson's options are now down to the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets. Fans believe none are as remotely tantalizing as New England and the offensive coordinator should stick with the Lions for another season:

Some claimed the Patriots made a mistake in passing Johnson for Vrabel:

"If Mike Vrabel won his Super Bowls as a player in Pittsburgh, no New England fan would be clamoring for him to be the next coach of the Patriots. It's nostalgia." - Opined @DomGonzo12

"Vrabel is a good improvement from Mayo as HC, but that doesn't mean I believe he would be a better option than Ben Johnson. It's time to move on from Defensive Head Coaches." - Believes @0JAYSZN

"Picking Vrabel would be a mistake. Kraft having relationships with old players and putting them in charge of a team has not proven well with the last coach." - Claimed @MadHatterMK1911

Ben Johnson could stay with the Lions

With Mike Vrabel close to joining the Patriots, Ben Johnson is by far the most coveted head coaching candidate and teams will wait on his decision before moving on to their next target.

While they wait with bated breath, there's a chance he picks none of the five looking for a new coach. Earlier this week, NFL insider Mike Florio claimed that the Lions OC could consider staying in Detroit if he doesn't like the options available. He reported:

" Some who know Johnson aren’t convinced he’s ready to go, this year or ever. He loves being an offensive mad scientist while head coach Dan Campbell handles the far more stressful and unpredictable issues of running an entire team."

It's unlikely, but there's a possibility that Johnson will pass on the opportunity and wait for another year before leaving the Lions.