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 fly back to 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.
Ben Johnson has been considered the favorite to become the Washington Commanders next head coach for weeks. Those odds have gone up as 6 of the 8 head coaching jobs have been filled. Adam Schefter’s sources say there are other strong candidates that Washington is considering. While there have been many reports that Ben Johnson is the “presumptive favorite”, Schefter’s sources say that’s not true.
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)
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)
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
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
Adam Schefter doubles down on other candidates being in contention besides Ben Johnson:
“I’m not convinced yet that Ben Johnson is getting the Commanders job..
People think Ben Johnson is going to Washington and Dan Quinn is going to Seattle..
I will bet you at a minimum that one of those isn’t right and maybe both” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ZZwyqNaKyF
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 29, 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
Adam Peters will be busy on Tuesday:
Washington has five interviews set for this week (Weaver, Macdonald, Quinn, Glenn and Johnson). Based on what I’ve gathered, those should be wrapped up Tuesday night. Should be. No guarantee. Then will depend on if their guy is still in postseason or not.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 28, 2024
The Commanders will interview Ben Johnson in Detroit on Tuesday, per source.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 28, 2024
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will interview with the Commanders in DC on Tuesday, per source.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 28, 2024