Jerrod

Johnson

Johnson has played a key role in C.J. Stroud’s growth and development and could soon be the replacement for the now-departed Bobby Slowik. Johnson broke into coaching with the Colts back in 2020 as an offensive quality control coach and went on to work as the Vikings’ assistant QB coach in 2022. He joined the Texans as part of head coach DeMeco Ryans’ staff in 2023 and is now “regarded as a top internal candidate” to win the OC job, per Wilson. Johnson is also expected to speak with Aaron Glenn and the Jets in the coming days. Johnson interviewed with six different teams about their offensive coordinator vacancies last offseason and could once again be in high demand as other teams begin to fill out their staffs.

Rap added that Cole Popovich is the top candidate to fill Houston’s vacancy at offensive line coach. Johnson received numerous offensive coordinator interviews last offseason following C.J. Stroud’s historic rookie campaign. Stroud regressed drastically in his second season, leading the Texans to fire OC Bobby Slowik. Houston will also interview outside candidates for the gig, but Johnson may have the inside track.

Despite interest from teams for offensive coordinator positions, Johnson is sticking with the Texans. The team just agreed to a new deal with OC Bobby Slowik and is now bringing back their QB coach to work with C.J. Stroud for at least another season after a successful first year between Slowik, Johnson, and Stroud. The young Texans offense is looking to run it back and build upon the team’s playoff berth from this season.

Johnson has emerged as an attractive coordinator candidate after his work with C.J. Stroud this season. “Yeah, you can’t talk about C.J. success without talking about Jerrod and what he was able to do, the relationship he had with him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said last week. He is one of three confirmed candidates to get an in-person interview for the Bucs’ job, which opened up after Dave Canales was hired to be the head coach of the Panthers. The other candidates are Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Johnson is also a candidate for the coordinator position in New Orleans, where he has interviewed twice.

According to Rooney, who the team brings in as its next offensive coordinator is entirely up to Tomlin; Rooney added that he and GM Omar Khan share ideas regularly with Tomlin. The Steelers recently interviewed former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, whose days as the Titans’ offensive coordinator (2019-2020) helped land him his first head coaching gig, but other candidates have also been vetted, including Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson. Who the Steelers bring on as their next offensive coordinator could go a long way in determining Mike Tomlin’s fate with the team beyond 2024. Tomlin is in the final year of his contract and will be desperate to roll out an improved team after last year’s 28th-ranked offense did anything but carry them to their 10-7 record.

The Saints have already requested as second interview with Johnson, who also met with the Steelers and Eagles for their offensive coordinator roles. Johnson has served as a quarterbacks coach in each of the last two seasons, but could soon land his first offensive coordinator gig as demand for his services heats up.

Johnson has received major interest for offensive coordinator positions this coaching cycle. He worked with C.J. Stroud in his big rookie season under Bobby Slowik in Houston and is now getting a second interview with the Saints, who are in need of a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Pete Carmichael. If Johnson and the Saints are a match, he would have the opportunity to revamp a Derek Carr-led offense that was stagnant at times in 2023.

Johnson, 35, has already interviewed for offensive coordinator jobs with the Browns, Saints, Patriots, and Eagles. The Steelers are looking to revamp an offense that has been among the league’s least productive and most predictable over the past couple seasons. Johnson’s work with C.J. Stroud in Houston is surely appealing to a Steelers organization desperate to salvage Kenny Pickett as a viable starting NFL quarterback.

Johnson and Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni were both on staff together with the Colts in 2019. After that season, Johnson was promoted to offensive quality control coach before coaching in Minnesota and now Houston. His work with C.J. Stroud has made Johnson one of the more sought after offensive coordinator candidates on the market. He also has an interview lined up in New Orleans and could be the favorite to be promoted to offensive coordinator in Houston if Bobby Slowik gets a head coaching job.

After spending his playing career as a training camp arm and a deep backup, Johnson joined the coaching ranks through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship in 2017. He spent a year with the 49ers in the program before joining the Colts in 2019. He was promoted to offensive quality control coach after a year and eventually left for Minnesota then Houston most recently. With C.J. Stroud breaking out for one of the best rookie seasons by a quarterback in league history, Johnson has more than earned his shot at calling plays for a team. He could take on that role in New Orleans or stay in Houston for a promotion if offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is hired away.