The search to find the next head coach of the Washington Commanders will wrap up shortly.
That much was ensured by Sunday’s NFL results, with losses by the Ravens and Lions — two teams who have coaches the Commanders are considering. Now, nothing stands between new owner Josh Harris and his next coach.
The Commanders interviewed a pair of Baltimore Ravens assistants, Anthony Weaver and Mike Macdonald, on Monday.
The team will conduct its final three interviews Tuesday, with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and Lions coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson.
The team will reportedly send its coaching search group — Harris, Bob Myers, Rick Spielman and new general manager Adam Peters — to Detroit to conduct the latter two interviews.
Johnson has long been considered the favorite in the process, and national reporters consider his hiring all but a done deal. The Harris group has maintained tight lips throughout the process, though, and no deal has been announced yet.
Washington has also previously interviewed two coaches who were not participating in the conference round of the playoffs — Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and current Commanders offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy.
If Sunday was the time for closing arguments, Macdonald and Johnson both delivered, even in losses.
Johnson’s offense sprinted out to a 24-7 lead over the San Francisco 49ers, including touchdowns on Detroit’s first two drives, which showcased new concepts and wrinkles that had the 49ers on their toes.
Meanwhile, Macdonald held the league’s most dynamic quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, to just 17 points, with none allowed in the second half.
Either man would become the youngest coach in the NFL, supplanting Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots. Johnson is 37, and Macdonald is 36.
Whoever it is won’t have much rest before jumping into the business at hand.
This week brings the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, the first event for players projected to be at the top of April’s NFL draft.
The new Commanders coach might not go to Mobile, but he will have to quickly brush up on the top quarterbacks in the class with Washington holding the No. 2 overall selection, a rare opportunity to take a franchise player.
Former coach Ron Rivera was given the same opportunity, but defensive end Chase Young couldn’t deliver on the hype as a pass rusher in Washington and was traded this season to the San Francisco 49ers — where he’s been mostly quiet in the team’s run to the Super Bowl.
Assembling a staff for the new Commanders coach will also be a top priority, as teams are beginning to settle on names for their offensive and defensive coordinator openings. Johnson would be a first-time NFL coach. And while there will be no shortage of interest, he will be starting from scratch on the defensive side of the ball.
It all means an exciting week in Washington, as the next phase of the team’s transformation comes into focus.
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