Commanders Looking For 'Best Leader' In Head Coaching Search, Says Adam Peters

New Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has detailed what he and the franchise are looking for in their new head coach.

The first domino in the Washington Commanders' search for change has fallen, with Adam Peters named the new general manager.

Peters, who was the assistant general manager for the San Francisco 49ers between 2021-2023, is now tasked with helping rebuild the Commanders.

His first order of business is to find Ron Rivera's successor.

But what is he, and owner Josh Harris looking for in a head coach?

"We're looking for the best leader for this team, for the Washington Commanders," Peters said. "So we'll have set criteria that we're going to be aligned in that vision, and it's not going to be in a box, it's not going to be offense, it's not going to be defense, it's going to be the best leader for this organization."

August 19, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters before the game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 33-14 / Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

While exactly who Peters and Co. pick as the new head coach is a major decision, so too is what the organization does with the second overall pick.

So many question marks surround Sam Howell as the starter going forward. It is important to remember that Howell is still in the infancy of his NFL career, but having the second pick in a draft that is dripping with talented quarterbacks might be too tantalizing to resist.

The franchise can go one of two ways; get help for Howell or replace him.

Peters didn't give anything away regarding the thought process of what the team will do with such a valued pick.

“Yeah, it's a great opportunity, but like I said earlier, we still have to hire the head coach, and we're going to do that whole process collaboratively," Peters said on having the No. 2 pick. "We're going to have a great process in deciding what we do there. We're far from making the decision on that [the No. 2 pick], but really looking forward to dive into that process.”

So there are two major decisions to come that will shape the franchise's direction for the next decade. 

Will Commanders Bring Texans Coach Bobby Slowik Home?

We have seen what happens when the wrong choice is made, and the Commanders can't afford to miss on either. Getting the right head coach and knowing which route to take with their draft hand will tell us a lot about how Peters and owner Josh Harris see Washington going forward.

There hasn't been this type of opportunity for Washington in a long time, and if the powers that be do it right, then the franchise will be in a great position going forward.

It's unfamiliar territory in Washington right now, being a position to make positive changes, and after decades of mediocrity, that's a good place to be.