Tag: Brian Johnson

Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (L) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson (R) talk during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Commanders adding Brian Johnson to coaching staff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders are hiring former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson to a yet-to-be determined position on offense, ESPN reported Thursday.

The Commanders named former Arizona Cardinals head coach and Southern California senior offensive analyst Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator earlier this week.

Washington likely will select a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Caleb Williams of the Trojans could be that choice.

The Eagles parted ways with Johnson last month. Johnson, 36, was in his first year as offensive coordinator, replacing Shane Steichen, who was hired one year ago as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Johnson previously served as quarterbacks coach and was credited in the run-up to Super Bowl LVII for aiding Jalen Hurts’ rapid growth.

But Hurts took a step back in 2023 and the offense hit significant speed bumps after a 10-1 start to the regular season.

–Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts takes a picture on stage at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix during the NFL's Super Bowl Opening Night on Feb. 6, 2023. Nfl Super Bowl Opening Night At Footprint Center

Eagles promote QB coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing new Colts head coach Shane Steichen.

Philadelphia lost offensive coordinator Steichen to Indianapolis and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Johnson has known Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for two decades. Hurts was a 4-year-old ballboy at Baytown Lee High School in Texas when Johnson played quarterback and Hurts’ father, Averion, was a coach.

Johnson, a quarterback at Utah, will assume play-calling duties under head coach Nick Sirianni. The Eagles have not named a replacement for Gannon, who also took linebackers coach Nick Rallis as his defensive coordinator in Arizona.

Johnson, 36, spent two years as quarterbacks coach of the Eagles. He previous coached in the college ranks at Florida, Houston, Mississippi State and Utah. As quarterbacks coach at Mississippi State, Johnson led the recruiting efforts of Channelview High School (Texas) quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Hurts and Sirianni credited Johnson for much of the team’s offensive success in 2022.

Sirianni said Johnson was “huge” in Hurts’ development but also influential in his articulation of the offense and scheme to players at other positions.

“Brian is also very gifted in the sense of helping be able to scheme, even though he wasn’t the offensive coordinator last year, he still helps a great deal with our schemes and the way we’re attacking defenses in the run game, in the pass game, in the protection world, in situationals,” Sirianni said. “He’s been a great influence, obviously, for Jalen. And Jalen’s done a nice job, obviously. But it’s a good relationship of those two guys because I do believe that’s helped Jalen become a better player.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni walks on the field before Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Eagles expected to promote Brian Johnson to OC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to promote quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator to replace Shane Steichen, according to multiple reports.

Steichen was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.

The Eagles also are considering passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, who could also follow Steichen to the Colts. Former Colts OC Marcus Brady, fired before head coach Frank Reich this past season, is also on Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni’s staff.

But Johnson, who has received multiple requests to interview for OC positions with other teams, seems to be the natural heir apparent to Steichen. ESPN called Johnson one of the most sought-after assistants in the NFL.

“He’s going to be a star one day,” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts said of Johnson ahead of the Super Bowl. “I have no doubt in my mind.”

Johnson, 35, has known Hurts and his family since he was 4 years old.

Johnson completed his second season with the Eagles after a stint at OC with the Florida Gators in 2020. Johnson has also been QBs coach/OC collegiately at Houston (2018) and Utah (2012-13).

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints kicker Brian Johnson (6) before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Washington signs K Brian Johnson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Football Team signed kicker Brian Johnson from the Chicago Bears’ practice squad Tuesday in the wake of Joey Slye’s hamstring injury, NFL Network reported.

Johnson will be the team’s fourth kicker this season.

Slye was injured trying to chase down Seattle defensive end Rasheem Green after a blocked extra point in the second quarter of Washington’s 17-15 win on Monday night. Green scored for two points while Slye came up lame. He was able to kick off but did not return in the second half, forcing Washington to eschew field goal attempts.

Washington coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday that Slye likely will miss three games, suggesting he’s headed for injured reserve.

Dustin Hopkins opened the season as the starting kicker for Washington, lasting six games. Chris Blewitt kicked in two games before the team signed Slye on Nov. 9.

Johnson, 22, kicked in four games for New Orleans this season, making all eight field goal attempts but missing three of eight PATs.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz (3) before their game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Saints K Wil Lutz suffers setback, done for season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz suffered a setback in his recovery from core muscle surgery and is done for the season.

Lutz made the announcement on social media.

“Unfortunately I had a setback during the rehab process that has forced me to shift my focus to being 100% healthy and shut it down for the season,” Lutz posted to Twitter.

Lutz suffered the core muscle strain during training camp and subsequently announced in early August he would have surgery to repair it. It was originally thought he would be out 8-to-12 weeks.

Lutz made the Pro Bowl after the 2019 season. He has played in all 80 games since joining the Saints in 2016.

Lutz connected on 23 of 28 field goals in 2020, the lowest percentage (82.1) of his career. He did make 57 of 58 extra points. Lutz led the NFL in extra points and attempts in 2017, hitting 47 of 50. He made 88.9 percent of his field goal attempts in 2019, including a long of 58 yards.

The Saints signed Brian Johnson off Chicago’s practice squad earlier this month and he connected for both of his field goal attempts in Monday night’s win at Seattle. His 33-yarder with 1:56 remaining in the game proved the game winner.

Johnson became the Saints’ fourth kicker this season after Cody Parkey injured his groin ahead of the Washington game and was put on injured reserve.

Johnson was waived by the Bears after the preseason, but then resigned to their practice squad. He made 54 of 71 field goal tries for Virginia Tech and converted all 131 of his extra-point attempts.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) and Carson Wentz (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Eagles hiring Florida’s Brian Johnson as QBs coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles are hiring Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson as quarterbacks coach, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

Joining the staff of new head coach Nick Sirianni, Johnson will be asked to help revive a passing attack that finished 28th in the NFL last year as Philadelphia benched an ineffective Carson Wentz in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts.

Johnson, 33, has built a reputation in the college ranks as something of a quarterback whisperer.

Before helping the Gators’ Kyle Trask develop into a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2020, he previously worked with Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott at Mississippi State from 2014-15 and with D’Eriq King at Houston in 2017. King later transferred to Miami (Fla.).

Wentz, who carries a $34.7 million cap hit in 2021, regressed mightily in his fifth NFL season. His 57.4 completion percentage and 72.8 passer rating were career lows, and his 15 interceptions and 50 sacks were career highs.

Former coach Doug Pederson benched the former Pro Bowl selection in December in favor of Hurts, the second-round draft pick from Oklahoma. Hurts was 1-3 as the starter, completing 52.0 percent of his passes for 1,061 yards, six touchdowns and four picks while rushing for 354 yards and three scores.

–Field Level Media