Ralph Vacchiano
NFC East Reporter
Over the last week or so, people inside the Washington Commanders began having doubts about whether Ben Johnson would be their next head coach. He was still rightfully considered by many to be the favorite. But there were doubts about whether he actually wanted the job.
So when Johnson called them on Wednesday afternoon — while their search committee was en route to Detroit to meet with him — and said he preferred to keep his job as the Lions offensive coordinator, the Commanders weren’t caught completely by surprise. But it still was a jolt to a search they had hoped to wrap up by the end of this week. And it’s led many around the NFL to openly wonder two things:
Where do they go from here?
And will they expand their search?
The answer to the first question could become much clearer in the coming hours and days, but currently there are five remaining available candidates from their initial group of eight — Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Ravens defensive line coach/assistant head coach Anthony Weaver, and Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Quinn and MacDonald were considered “real sleepers” in the search as recently as last week, according to a team source who said both had impressive interviews. But they are both apparently finalists for the head coaching job in Seattle too. MacDonald, in fact, was headed there for a second interview on Wednesday, according to a report.
Looming over the Commanders’ search, however, are two coaches they haven’t interviewed yet — Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel, who happen to be two of the best and most experienced head coaches to hit the open market in years.
But there have been no indications at all that new Commanders owner Josh Harris and his search committee, which obviously includes new general manager Adam Peters, intends to turn…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/commanders-head-coach-search-turn-next-will-mike-vrabel-get-look
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Publish date : 2024-01-31 17:19:21
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