Lions, Ravens Lose; Commanders Coaching Search Ramps Up

Ben Johnson is the favorite to land the Washington Commanders job, and that move could happen this week.

The AFC and NFC Championship Games were huge for the Washington Commanders.

Not because the Commanders won, or even came close to competing in them, but because both of the team's prime candidates - at least from the outside - are now available to take new jobs. 

That's because Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald both came up on the losing end of their efforts. And those results may lead to the coaching search in Washington coming to a close as early as this week.

With those two, and fellow Ravens coach Anthony Weaver, now free to sign on with other teams the Commanders' search for a new coach is expected to intensify and many are expecting an announced hire as soon as this week.

Here is the reported in-person interview schedule of potential candidates.

Washington Commanders coach candidates (from left to right) Mike Macdonald, Aaron Glenn, Bobby Slowik, and Ben Johnson / USA Today

ALREADY COMPLETED: Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Washington Commanders assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy

Slowik has been a popular name this hiring cycle because of the work he did with first-year quarterback C.J. Stroud and the contributions the duo made toward taking the Texans to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. 

His past connection working in the San Francisco 49ers organization with new Washington general manager Adam Peters has made Slowik a darkhorse candidate for some time now.

Bieniemy finished his first year with the Commanders in less than stellar fashion with his offense collapsing as quarterback Sam Howell appeared to hit a 'rookie wall' in his first season starting for the team.

While he is the first coach to get an in-person interview, there doesn't appear to be much smoke behind the idea he may get the job.

MONDAY: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line Anthony Weaver

Weaver just wrapped his 14th season of coaching and his third with Baltimore, the same team that drafted him in 2002. 

He spent 2021 working with the Ravens' defensive line before also adding the duty of run game coordinator in 2022, and then finally adding assistant head coach to the mix this year.

Since his playing days ended in 2008 Weaver has coached for the Florida Gators, North Texas Mean Green, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans before landing in Baltimore.

Of course, Weaver spent the last two years working under defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald who is widely considered one of the top two candidates for the Commanders job.

Before becoming the Ravens' defensive coordinator Macdonald ran the Michigan Wolverines' defense for one year and helped that team win its first Big Ten title since 2004.

His time with the Wolverines is bookended by tenures with Baltimore as Macdonald served on the team's defensive staff as an assistant and position coach beginning in 2014.

TUESDAY: Detroit Lions offensive and defensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn

Something that stands out about Tuesday's schedule is the fact Washington leadership is traveling to Detroit to meet with Johnson and Glenn.

Many view this as a sign the team is pulling out all the stops to land Johnson, widely viewed as the top coaching candidate this cycle.

Johnson has served in several roles with the Lions since joining the franchise in 2019 but really made a name for himself as the team's offensive coordinator the past two seasons.

His work with quarterback Jared Goff has been praised league-wide, as has his usage of the various weapons on the roster in Detroit.

Despite his unit's collapse against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game Glenn shouldn't be counted out as a candidate either. 

His leadership ability and proven record of getting the most out of young players will appeal to a Commanders organization planning to build its roster through the draft while supplementing with well-placed free agents to tie the whole thing together.

Glenn has three years under his belt as an NFL defensive coordinator now, and 10 as a coach overall.

In addition to their trip to Detroit, Washington leadership will meet with Quinn on their home turf. 

As the only retread (a candidate who previously held a head coaching job in the NFL) in the group, Quinn is an outlier but also uniquely positioned as the only candidate who can speak to his approach from a place of direct experience.

The fact he also comes from a division rival only sweetens the pot, and while he's not a favorite, he shouldn't be looked at as a throw-away interview of sorts either.

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EXPECTED TIMELINE

Managing partner Josh Harris promised a thorough but swift process to reorganize his front office, and he made good on that by hiring Peters just days later. 

Now, with all of his coaching candidates available for hire, we expect much of the same with an anticipated decision coming this week, and a chance to meet the new head coach of the Commanders coming in the next.