Twitter reacts to Ben Johnson turning down the Commanders
Tuesday was a wild day in the search for a new Washington Commanders’ head coach. The day began in Ashburn with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in town for his second interview.
So Dan Quinn’s interview with the Commanders is clearly done. pic.twitter.com/DoDzoqErOM
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 30, 2024
After Quinn departed his interview, Washington brass hopped on a flight for Detroit to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
While in flight, Johnson called the Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks to inform them he was withdrawing his name from consideration. Johnson, long perceived to be the top candidate, was returning for another year in Detroit.
Washington still made the trip to interview Glenn.
Not only had most media sources believed Johnson was landing the Washington job, but fans were already convinced he was coming to the Commanders. Fans enjoyed watching Detroit’s offense in the NFC Championship game Sunday night.
So, when the news broke that Johnson was remaining in Detroit, some fans didn’t take it too well.
We go to Twitter for some of those reactions.
“What do you think about Ben Johnson?”
Washington fans: pic.twitter.com/0ZvCPIVBx0
— Cooley's Takes (@Cooleystakes) January 31, 2024
I did just speak to a source close to the Josh Harris camp that said the team was surprised by the Ben Johnson pivot.
However, the team remains excited about how the interview process has gone so far.
They are confident that they're going to land an elite head coaching talent pic.twitter.com/wZTJrDexQE
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson did, indeed, let the Commanders interviewing brass know he was pulling his name from their search as they were traveling to meet with him.
That's not full Josh McDaniels behavior, but man, that is not a great look.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) January 30, 2024
Many fans are mourning the loss of who they thought Ben Johnson was. But here's the thing. He just showed you he's not who you thought he was.
— Burgundy Blog (@BurgundyBlog) January 30, 2024
Josh Harris when Ben Johnson asked for 15 million.😂 pic.twitter.com/pHkHDsqnMy
— Disco (@discoque5) January 30, 2024
Had talked to someone last night who suggested this exact scenario with Ben Johnson, that he had returned to Detroit last year for unfinished business and might want to do so again. Wasn't newsy, just speculation. Then he did. Rare.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 30, 2024
When Harris gets Ben Johnson text…..#HTTC
pic.twitter.com/4CNUCdRvgz— ᖇIGGO 70 ᑕᕼIᑭ ™ 🌊🤙🏽🎧 (@karl_diesel) January 30, 2024
There are mainly 3 reasons for Ben Johnson staying in Detroit.
1. He didn't like the #Commanders or #Seahawks opportunities.
2. The teams didn't love him.
3. He just really doesn't believe he's ready yet. If it's that, he's at risk of not having this kind of leverage again.— Kevin Sheehan (@kevinsheehanDC) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson to the Lions organization pic.twitter.com/1taGxMtThu
— Honolulu Blues (@HonoluluBlues_) January 30, 2024
Lions fans after losing in the NFCCG but Ben Johnson is coming back pic.twitter.com/gvzHulwwtJ
— 𝔻𝕖𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕚𝕥 (@Devoted2DET) January 30, 2024
Live look at Allen Park today when Ben Johnson announced he was staying: pic.twitter.com/3bSOKAJDmR
— AMONG US ST BROWN (@That1LionsFan) January 30, 2024
BREAKING: Ben Johnson has decided to work on growing a pair of balls before becoming a head coach lol
— PoeticGenius916 (@CMont916) January 30, 2024
For all those that wanted the @Commanders to hire an offensive guy, both Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik are staying put. The only offensive coach left that the new GM Adam Peters has interviewed is …. Coach EB! pic.twitter.com/BHdvfz5AMW
— The Junkies (@JunksRadio) January 31, 2024
So Ben Johnson let Washington know he was out of the running while the team was flying to meet him, source tells me. That is going to look BAD if/when he wants more head coaching interviews next year or beyond.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 30, 2024
Panthers fans watching the Washington fans who bragged about Ben Johnson end up with Dan Quinn: pic.twitter.com/pSGrm8DHwl
— LilRocketNasa🚀 (@lilrocketnasa) January 30, 2024
For Ben Johnson to take his name out of the running for the Commanders job is mind blowing. New ownership, number 2 pick, and tons of cap space. What am I missing here 🤔
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) January 30, 2024
I hope Ben Johnson gets the Eric Beinemy treatment going forward from the rest of the owners lol
— Ⓜ️ike Hall (@TBZmoneymike301) January 30, 2024
Magic Johnson finding out his Commanders front office didn't get Ben Johnsonpic.twitter.com/IPxkpGwL0N
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 30, 2024
Commander and Seahawks trying to sign Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik pic.twitter.com/mtpxqqm4QA
— PAIN (@Xommanders) January 30, 2024
Uncle Ben’s rice > Ben Johnson lol
— PoeticGenius916 (@CMont916) January 30, 2024
Hard to be devastated about losing out on such an unknown commodity. It’s not a like a 26 y/o All-Pro free agent decided to axe his deal here. Ben Johnson was certainly the highest profile target, but we don’t know a thing about these guys who’ve never been the head guy before.…
— Eric Sully (@CommandersRealm) January 30, 2024
Source tells me that Ben Johnson was never a lock for the Commanders job, folks from Ashburn still surprised how this went down. Like cancelling with the team en route to freaking Detroit.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 30, 2024
The Commanders’ brass when they land in Detroit to interview Aaron Glenn and run into Ben Johnson pic.twitter.com/KZ9y3hYt9t
— Jordan (@wshingtontoday) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson could have said he was staying in Detroit right after they got eliminated and we could have moved in on Macdonald and never let him get to Seattle to interview. That’s the only thing that pisses me off, especially if we end up with Dan fucking Quinn!
— PoeticGenius916 (@CMont916) January 30, 2024
There is zero chance that Ben Johnson is staying with the Lions because he "wants to win a Super Bowl with them." This is about the #Commanders & Seahawks not truly wanting him or him not truly wanting them.
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) January 30, 2024
Live look at Washington's stop in Detroit with Ben Johnson no longer a candidate…. pic.twitter.com/g56oPvWso8
— Donnie 'RightSide' Seymour (@RightSideVP) January 30, 2024
Just to be clear, Ben Johnson is a dumbass loser freak and I actually never wanted him
— Evan Hill (@EvanHillHB) January 31, 2024
Mike Macdonald’s defense vs Ben Johnson’s offense pic.twitter.com/7a219T2W0r
— 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻 🪖 (@Howell2McLaurin) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson to the commanders pic.twitter.com/6h1A2iFJeC
— Lord Brunson tweets (@lord_brunson) January 30, 2024
