Commanders trying to interview Greg Roman for offensive coordinator role

The Washington Commanders are trying to land an interview with former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman for the same role, a source with knowledge of the situation said. 

The Commanders’ interest in Roman makes him the latest candidate on the team’s radar as Washington has yet to hire an offensive coordinator after firing Scott Turner last month. The Commanders have interviewed six candidates for the opening, but were waiting until after Sunday’s Super Bowl to speak with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 

Bieniemy is still on the Commanders’ radar, though if an interview happens, a source said it’s likely to take place later this week due to Kansas City’s Super Bowl parade. 

Roman, in the meantime, is an intriguing candidate for Washington as he has a history of designing creative rushing attacks and sticking with the run — something that would appear to be lineup with coach Ron Rivera’s run-centric philosophy. Before he resigned last month, Roman spent four seasons as Baltimore’s play-caller and helped the Ravens rank second (2022), third (2021), first (2020) and first (2019) in rushing yards over that span. He also has coordinator experience with Buffalo (2015-2016) and San Francisco (2011-14). 

While Roman’s offenses excelled in rushing the ball, fans became frustrated over the lack of progress in the passing game. Former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III, who played for Roman, tweeted that wide receivers tend to “absolutely hate” the coach’s system, adding it was a reason that Baltimore was unable to lure top free-agent receivers to play with quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

So far, the Commanders have interviewed the following candidates for their offensive coordinator opening: former Giants coach Pat Shurmur, Washington quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, Titans pass-game coordinator Charles London (was with Atlanta at the time), Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville, Rams associate coach Thomas Brown and 49ers running backs coach Anthony Lynn. 

Bieniemy has been described as a top candidate for Washington’s opening. The Chiefs coordinator, who has been unable to land a head coach opening despite conducting more than a dozen interviews over the past few years, drew high praise from coach Andy Reid after Kansas City’s second-half comeback Sunday over the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl. 

Bieniemy’s contract with the Chiefs is set to expire now that the season is over and he could land elsewhere in order to be a team’s primary play-caller, a role that belongs to Reid in Kansas City. 

“Listen, Eric Bieniemy has been tremendous for us,” Reid told reporters Monday. “I think has been tremendous for the NFL. I am hoping he’s having an opportunity to go somewhere and do his thing where he can run the show and be Eric Bieniemy.”

Speaking to reporters in Phoenix last week, Rivera confirmed the team’s interest in Bieniemy — who also has received attention from the Ravens.

“From what you’re hearing on the grapevine, he’s looking for an opportunity to work with a defensive coach,” Rivera said. “So I want to see about that opportunity.”