Ben Johnson's decision to stay in Detroit impacts Super Bowl 2025 odds

In a surprise announcement, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has passed on the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks head coaching jobs in favor of running it back for another year in Detroit.

We of course presume that Johnson could have had either job if he wanted them, and while that is no guarantee, reporting does suggest both teams were interested in his services and had interviewed him.

Instead, Johnson has seemingly acknowledged that his best path to winning a Lombardi Trophy is in Detroit after the team came so close to making it this season.

The news has to be welcomed from the Lions faithful, and the betting markets have quickly adjusted to Johnson's decision.
Just this morning, Detroit sat at +1700 to win Super Bowl LIX, tied for the fourth-best odds in the NFC.

Now, the Lions are +1200 to be champs next February, hopping both Dallas and Philadelphia to represent the second-best odds in the conference behind San Francisco.

The +1200 price is now tied with Buffalo with fourth-highest, with Kansas City and Baltimore representing the betting favorites out of the AFC.

Johnson helped to get big years out of Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, all of whom are expected to return this upcoming season. Those pieces, plus an elite offensive line, seemed to make staying in Detroit an attractive option.