Ben Johnson sweepstakes heating up in two-team battle with decision coming soon

The Ben Johnson breadcrumbs are piling up.Multiple reports surfaced on Monday about the future of the Lions offensive coordinator, who is the hottest candidate in this coaching cycle.Momentum built for the Raiders last week and now the team brought in a face Johnson is familiar with Sunday for an interview for its general manager vacancy.Former Lions exec and current Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark was reportedly in Las Vegas for an interview, hours after his Washington team stunned Detroit with a 45-31 Divisional Round win on Saturday night.Before joining the Commanders last year, Newmark spent more than two decades with the Lions, forging a “strong relationship” with Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — another sought-after candidate this coaching cycle — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Newmark, who most recently served as the Lions’ senior director of player personnel, has also spoken to the Jets about their GM opening and will reportedly have a second interview with Gang Green on Tuesday.Schefter also reported on Monday that decisions from Johnson and Glenn, who scheduled a second interview with the Jets, are expected by the middle of the week.Johnson, though, is not a foregone conclusion.The Bears and Jaguars also interviewed the 38-year-old and NFL insider Josina Anderson was told by sources that Johnson is now “deeply considering” the opening in Chicago, which would come with the chance to mentor young quarterback Caleb Williams.The Bears fired Matt Eberflus the day after a Thanksgiving day loss to Johnson’s Lions and on the way to a disappointing 5-12 season.The Raiders cleaned house earlier this month with the firings of first-year coach Antonio Pierce and first-year GM Tom Telesco after a disappointing 4-13 campaign.Johnson, who has served as Detroit’s offensive coordinator since 2022, has been heavily linked to the Raiders’ opening, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting Wednesday that the 38-year-old i...