Reports: Panthers request to interview Lions OC Ben Johnson, Ravens OC Todd Monken

The Carolina Panthers have begun the process of finding a new head coach following the firing of Frank Reich this past November.

According to reports from Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Carolina has requested to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for its head coaching vacancy. In addition, the Panthers have requested an interview with Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. All three are expected to be on the shortlist of every team searching for a new head coach.

Johnson was one of the first names to be linked with Carolina’s opening following his success over the last two seasons in Detroit. Johnson, 37, has spent the past five seasons with the Lions, the last two as the team’s offensive coordinator. He is the mastermind behind a Lions offense which ranked No. 3 in the league in yards per game (394.8) and fifth in points per game (27.1). He reportedly declined a second interview with Carolina for the same opening last offseason, paving the way for the team to hire Reich.

Monken, 57, is far more well-traveled, having begun his coaching career in 1989 as a graduate assistant at Grand Valley State. He is in his first year in Baltimore and spearheads the league’s No. 6 ranked offense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has flourished under Monken and is the leading candidate for the AP NFL MVP Award. Monken served as offensive coordinator for Georgia the previous three seasons, helping lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and ’22.

Panthers looking for coach to work with Bryce Young

Slowik, 36, would become the youngest head coach in the NFL. After spending six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers on Kyle Shanahan’s staff, Slowik followed DeMeco Ryans to Houston to become the Texans’ offensive coordinator. The Texans, one year removed from holding the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, qualified for the playoffs in the AFC. Quarterback CJ Stroud just finished off one of the best rookie campaigns from a signal-caller and is the frontrunner for the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award.

The next head coach of the Panthers will be tasked with fixing the league’s worst offense, as well as quarterback Bryce Young, who struggled mightily in his rookie season.