There are some underlying stories attached to the Washington Commanders' road game against the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. Arguably the biggest is Ben Johnson coming up versus a team he could be coaching right now.
Johnson was seen as a leading candidate for the Commanders' head coaching position after Ron Rivera became surplus to requirements. The Lions offensive coordinator had a glowing reputation and was a favorite among sportsbooks to get the job. Leading insiders weren't so certain, highlighting it wasn't a done deal by any stretch and Dan Quinn was also under strong consideration.
This all came to a head as the Commanders were in the air to meet with Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for separate second interviews. Something happened that caused the play-caller to pull out of the running, which eventually led Washington to Quinn.
Insider suggests Ben Johnson wanted Sam Howell to lead his Commanders offense
Lake Lewis Jr. provided a different theory on what he heard happened on the flight. The Commanders insider revealed on the Rambling with Rio podcast that Johnson's desire to move forward with Sam Howell as his starting quarterback ended up being the major stumbling block. And it was general manager Adam Peters, not the coach, who called off the meeting.
"I don't know if it's been talked about publicly, but this is the story I got. They were en route. They were en route to Detroit for the interview in conversation with Ben Johnson. It was brought up that Ben Johnson still wanted Sam Howell. That's who he wanted to be the quarterback for this offense. And, you know, there's [North] Carolina connections and all that stuff. And Adam Peters was like "No" because they knew who they were going to draft. And we all knew who they were going to draft. He didn't want him. So if there's anybody that should be upset, it should be Jayden [Daniels]. Kudos to Adam Peters for saying no, this is the quarterback you'll have to work with. It was Adam Peters that said turn that plane around."Lake Lewis Jr.
#Lions OC Ben Johnson wanted former #Commanders QB Sam Howell to be the team’s QB in which GM Adam Peters told Johnson that he was drafting a QB, via @LakeLewisJr.
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 14, 2025
Adam Peters made the decision to turn the plane around, cancelling the interview
😳😳😳
(🎥:@Rio_Robinson91) pic.twitter.com/AbFMfhVR33
This is a new one.
Johnson went on the defensive immediately, sending out sources that claimed the Commanders' decision-makers were basketball guys who thought they knew a little too much about football. But if Lewis' report is accurate, Peters was right to pull the plug.
Everything happens for a reason. Johnson and the Commanders couldn't meet in the middle for whatever reason. Quinn wasn't exactly a consolation prize considering the esteem in which he is held. He's also proved that this was the right man to spearhead an ambitious rebuild.
The Commanders' culture shift was remarkable. They won 12 games, inspired the fanbase, secured the sixth spot in the NFC playoff seeding, and even managed a postseason triumph at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Washington's infrastructure is revamped. Peters is running things with a professional purpose and always keeping the bigger picture in mind. The Commanders are an attractive destination once again and Daniels achieved superstar status long ago.
Not bad for a bunch of basketball guys.
And it could get even better yet. The Commanders are heavy underdogs at Ford Field this weekend and rightfully so. But as this team has proven on countless occasions under Quinn's guidance, they are never out of the fight.
Johnson and the Commanders will have extra motivation. It'll be fascinating to see which one comes out on top.