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Christopher Boan is a staff writer for BetMichigan.com. He has covered sports and sports betting for more than seven years and has worked for publications such as ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
Next Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Odds: Top Candidates To Replace Ben Johnson
One of the downsides of prolonged success in today’s NFL is that there’s a good chance your team will lose a coordinator as a result. That’s exactly what’s happened to the two-time defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions.
Head coach Dan Campbell is tasked with replacing both his offensive and defensive coordinators. The Chicago Bears hired away Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their head coach, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is off to lead the New York Jets.
BetMichigan.com, where the best Michigan sportsbook promo codes aren’t going anywhere, broke down some hypothetical odds on who will replace Johnson in the Motor City. He leaves Detroit after a three-year stint under Campbell where the team won 36 games and reached the playoffs twice.
Next Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Odds
Candidate | Current Job | Odds | Percent Chance |
Tanner Engstrand | Lions Passing Game Coordinator | +400 | 20.0% |
Scottie Montgomery | Lions RBs Coach | +450 | 17.4% |
Hank Fraley | Lions OL Coach | +450 | 17.4% |
Pete Carmichael Jr. | Broncos Senior Offensive Analyst | +800 | 11.1% |
Mark Brunell | Lions QB Coach | +1000 | 9.1% |
Nick Caley | Rams TEs Coach / Passing Game Coordinator | +1250 | 7.4% |
Klint Kubiak | Saints Offensive Coordinator | +1250 | 7.4% |
The Field |
| +800 | 11.1% |
These odds are exclusive to betMichigan.com as part of our Michigan sports betting coverage.
Who Replaces Dan Johnson in Detroit?
Our odds-on favorite to replace Johnson as OC in Detroit is one of his former subordinates, one of a few current Campbell staff members on our list.
Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is our top pick to be elevated, at +400 odds. Fellow Lions offensive assistants Scottie Montgomery and Hank Fraley are co-listed at +450 apiece.
Engstrand has been in the Motor City since joining the team in 2020 as an offensive assistant, serving as the team’s offensive quality control coach in 2021 before moving on to coach tight ends and serve as passing game coordinator from 2022 through this past season.
Montgomery has coached in a variety of roles, including as the head coach of East Carolina, from 2006 to 2024. He joined the Lions staff in 2023 and is the team’s assistant head coach and running backs coach under Campbell’s watch.
Fraley has been in Detroit since 2018, serving as the team’s assistant offensive line coach in 2018 and 2019 before taking over as head offensive line coach in 2020. He is about as well acquainted with Campbell’s systems as anyone in the Motor City.
Other Lions OC candidates to keep an eye on include Denver Broncos senior offensive analyst Pete Carmichael Jr. (+800), Lions QB coach Mark Brunell (+1000), Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Nick Caley and New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who both come in at +1250.
But Engstrand is just ahead of the field; his odds would translate to a 20% implied probability at Michigan sportsbook apps if they offered this prop.
Whichever candidate does get the job is tasked with picking up where Johnson left off, with the Lions going 15-2 while ranking second in the NFL in passing yards per game (263.2), while placing fourth in rushing yards (146.4) and first in points per game (33.2).
USA Today photo by David Reginek
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