Tracking Washington’s Head Coach/Front Office search
Managing partner Josh Harris introduced Adam Peters as the Washington Commanders new GM on Tuesday, January 9th, and now the focus is on finding their next head coach. There will also have to be a restructuring of the front office and scouting department. Peters comes in as a highly-regarded football executive, and he is now in control of the process to rebuild this franchise.
Washington has been conducting a head coaching search that began in early January, and they have been linked to 8 candidates. There are currently 2 open head coaching jobs in the NFL. The Commanders and Seahawks can now conduct in-person interviews with coaches that were eliminated from the Conference Championship round last weekend. Washington has already conducted in-person interviews with OC Eric Bieniemy and Bobby Slowik. They had in-person interviews with Ravens DC Mike Macdonald and Assoc. HC/DL Coach yesterday, and they are in Detroit now to interview Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn. They will then meet with Cowboys DC Dan Quinn later today, and that will likely conclude their interviews. A hire is expected to happen this week, and will likely be announced tomorrow.
Lions OC Ben Johnson was considered the favorite for Waahington, but he is staying with the Lions. He informed Washington officials as they were on their way to Detroit to interview him and Lions DC Aaron Glenn. Texans Oc Bobby Slowik is also staying with his team after signing a new deal there. That leaves Washington with no external candidates that coach offense. Ravens Assoc. HC/DL Coach Anthony Weaver has already started taking interviews for defensive coordinator positions after interviewing with Washington for HC yesterday. Is this coming down to Dan Quinn vs Mike Macdonald?
Stay tuned for the latest updates as they happen
Rumors and reported interest and interviews
Head Coach
Lions OC Ben Johnson – Virtual interview (1/19), in-person interview (1/30), Saying with the Lions
Lions DC Aaron Glenn – Virtual interview (1/20), in-person interview (1/30)
Rams DC Raheem Morris – Virtual interview (1/18), Hired by the Atlanta Falcons
Ravens Assoc. HC/DL Coach Anthony Weaver – Virtual interview (1/11), in-person interview (1/29)
Ravens DC Mike Macdonald – Virtual interview, in-person interview (1/29)
Texans OC Bobby Slowik – Virtual interview scheduled (1/21), In-person interview (1/23), signed new deal with the Texans
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn – Virtual interview (1/18); in-person interview (1/30)
Commanders OC Eric Bieniemy – Interviewed two weeks ago
NFL Head Coach openings
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders
NFL Head Coach hirings
Atlanta Falcons – Hired Rams DC Raheem Morris
Carolina Panthers – Hired Buccaneers OC Dave Canales
Las Vegas Raiders – Hired interim HC Antonio Pierce
Los Angeles Chargers – Hired Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh
New England Patriots – Promoted LBs coach Jerod Mayo
Tennessee Titans – Hired Bengals OC Brian Callahan
Head of Football Operations
49ers AGM Adam Peters – Hired as GM, 5-year contract
Martin Mayhew is expected to stay in Adam Peters’ front office:
Martin Mayhew will be at the Senior Bowl (headed there with Adam Peters; other scouts, Eric Stokes already there). Mayhew is expected to remain with Washington, though the title remains uncertain. The team has not yet made any formal announcement about his role.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 31, 2024
Seahawks are making a decision on Mike Macdonald:
My understanding is GM John Schneider and the Seahawks’ contingent is back in Seattle and now in the decision-making process after the interview with Mike Macdonald earlier today. Other Seahawks scouts will handle Senior Bowl duties for now.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) January 31, 2024
Bobby Slowik signed a new deal to stay with the Texans:
Texans OC Bobby Slowik has agreed to a new deal in Houston within the past few days, one that includes a significant raise, per sources. Slowik impressed multiple NFL clubs thru the interview process.
But he’s sticking in Houston. He’ll be a hot name in 2025.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 30, 2024
Washington got the Ben Johnson news on their way to Detroit:
Commanders officials were en route to Detroit for a meeting with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn when they got word that Johnson was staying with the Lions, per sources. While the abrupt pivot by Johnson was considered “surprising” by several league sources, he was not considered a…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson is staying with the Detroit Lions:
#Lions OC Ben Johnson informed the #Seahawks and #Commanders that he’s staying in Detroit, per sources.
Johnson is still only 37 and will be a hot head coaching candidate again next year. But first, he wants to take another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/lPg2Po33sx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson was not the head-coaching lock that people thought and his asking price spooked some teams, per sources. https://t.co/cFl2FPBtcY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2024
Ben Johnson has made the decision to stay in Detroit.
For weeks this option was always on the table.
The Commanders knew they weren’t a lock and have been operating with this information.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 30, 2024
Dan Quinn sighting:
Update: Dan Quinn confirmed Dan Quinn’s interview is done. Said he thought it went well. Now he waits.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 30, 2024
Anthony Weaver is now interviewing for defensive coordinator jobs:
Anthony Weaver will interview for the defensive coordinator position for the Miami Dolphins, per source. Weaver spent hours on Monday with the Commanders discussing the head coaching job.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 30, 2024
Mike Macdonald is the “defensive Sean McVay”:
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Seahawks are interviewing Mike Macdonald today, and this is one to watch. pic.twitter.com/dGZ4WcAKft
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2024
Washington’s search committee is in Detroit for the Lions’ coordinators:
Commanders’ officials are in Detroit today to meet with Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Lions’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn about their head coaching job.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2024
Washington has interviews scheduled with Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver on Monday:
Ravens’ defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is scheduled to meet Monday night with Commanders’ owner Josh Harris, general manager Adam Peters and other Washington leadership, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2024