Seahawks have apparently added Lions OC to the list of coaching candidates to interview

Tuesday, just as Seahawks general manager John Schneider was wrapping up his first news conference since Pete Carroll’s departure, two additional names were disclosed as the team’s prospective future coach.

Two new names were added to the list on Tuesday: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. The NFL Network, the league’s official media arm, revealed both names Tuesday, reporting that the Seahawks had requested interviews with both.

Seattle had already requested permission to speak with six other NFL assistants, including Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

According to league rules, teams can hold virtual interviews with NFL assistants this week and begin in-person interviews Monday, but only with coaches from teams that have completed their seasons (i.e., not those who reach the conference title game).

Schneider says the Seahawks will begin interviews on Wednesday. Seattle is likely to conduct virtual interviews this week with the goal of bringing in in-person candidates next week.

Teams can speak with college coaches or unemployed individuals at any time. However, Seattle has not been linked to any coaches who suit these descriptions. Schneider stated that there was no limit to how many coaches the Seahawks may interview.

“Too many is not too many,” Schneider said, adding that the team will approach it similarly to the free-agency process, attempting to get in on everything. Here’s a peek at the two new names: JOHNSON Johnson, 37, has been the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons and with Detroit for all three years of its turnaround under coach Dan Campbell, starting as passing game coordinator in 2021.

Johnson was a walk-on quarterback at North Carolina from 2004 to 2007 under John Bunting and Butch Davis before going into coaching. He holds degrees in math and computer science. From 2012 to 2018, he worked for Miami in a variety of jobs, all on offense, eventually becoming receivers coach. In 2019, he joined Matt Patricia’s Detroit coaching staff as offensive quality control coach.

Johnson has received a lot of credit for helping Detroit become one of the top offenses in the NFL. The Lions were fourth and fifth in yards and points in 2022, and third and fifth in 2023. Johnson is also apparently scheduled to conduct a virtual interview with Washington this week. SLOWIK Slowik, 36, is wrapping off his first season as a coordinator in Houston, where he has overseen an offense led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The Texans finished 12th in points and 13th in yards this season, and they progressed to the divisional round of the playoffs. Slowik worked with the 49ers from 2017 to 22 in a variety of roles under Kyle Shanahan, including passing game coordinator in 2022. He was given credit for guiding Brock Purdy from reserve to starter. He was also an offensive assistant (2019-20) and defensive quality control coach (2017-18) with the 49ers.

Slowik worked as a defensive assistant for Mike Shanahan in Washington from 2011 to 2013, with Kyle Shanahan, current Rams coach Sean McVay, Morris, current Packers coach Matt LaFleur, and current Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

As such, he would be well-versed in the offenses and methods of the 49ers and the Rams, the teams that are Seattle’s main barriers in the NFC West. Slowik is the son of Bob Slowik, a former college, NFL, and CFL assistant who works for the Calgary Stampeders.

Bob Slowik served as the Packers’ defensive backs coach from 2000 to 2003, as well as defensive coordinator in 2004. That means he met paths with Schneider, who worked in Green Bay’s personnel department from 2002 to 2010. Bobby Slowik graduated from Green Bay Southwest High School.

He played receiver at Michigan Tech, a Division II institution in Houghton, Mich., where he also studied biomedical engineering. According to his Houston Texans bio, his brother Steve is an area scout for the 49ers, while another brother, Ryan, is the Miami Dolphins’ outside linebackers coach. His mother, Carol, has coached track and field for several college programs as well as the United States Olympic Festival squad.