If Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is indeed David Tepper’s white whale, then it might be full steam ahead in this regime’s third head-coaching search, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today's Panthers Wire reports.

According to CBS Sports senior NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the Carolina Panthers owner may have recently been trying to put in a good word on his own behalf with Johnson’s agent. Jones wrote the following in his column from Saturday:

Carolina owner David Tepper has said he wants his next coach to be there for the next 20 to 30 years, so that alone would eliminate the 71-year-old Belichick. (Tepper is expected to make another run at Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and the billionaire spent a good amount of time with Johnson’s agent at this week’s league meetings.)

Johnson was one of the perceived favorites for the Panthers during last year’s search. But the young play-caller ultimately opted to turn down interview requests and stick around in Detroit to finish business.

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