Brian Johnson will enter the 2023 NFL regular season under immense pressure after taking over as offensive coordinator for the departed Shane Steichen.
He’s an emerging coaching star, and depending on how the Eagles’ offense continues to develop going forward, Johnson could be fast-tracked toward head coach Nick Sirianni needing to make another hire.
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports looked at the offensive X-Factor for all 32 NFL teams, and the offensive coordinator landed on the list for Philadelphia.
In 2021, the Eagles’ offense took off when then-new head coach Nick Sirianni gave up play-calling duties to focus more on holistic game management, allowing Shane Steichen to take over. The pivot to a run-heavy attack allowed the Eagles to build an efficient offense, which propelled them to the playoffs. Last year, Steichen helped Jalen Hurts evolve as a passer, and the offense hit even higher heights. Johnson was the quarterbacks coach during that run, and he obviously played a significant role in Hurts’ development. Now, though, he’s the coordinator and the play-caller. And that’s a new wrinkle. If he hits the ground running, things will run smoothly. If not, there may be some kinks to work out throughout the season.
A former college quarterback at Utah who has known the Hurts family for years, Johnson joined the Eagles after serving as the offensive coordinator for the University of Florida, helping get Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts to the NFL.
Before that, Johnson was crucial in Dak Prescott earning All-SEC honors at Mississippi State.
He’ll now be tasked with ensuring the NFL’s most dominant offense keeps its identity while taking the next step in efficiency and innovation.
