Report: Commanders Made Offer to Mike Macdonald; Dan Quinn Not First Choice?

Mike Macdonald reportedly had an offer from the Washington Commanders before choosing the Seattle Seahawks.

The Washington Commanders hired Dan Quinn as their next head coach on Thursday, but he may not have been the team's top option. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported that the Commanders made an offer to Seattle Seahawks head coach and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. He also reported that Washington made the offer after Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson opted to take his name out of the running for the Commanders job to stay in Detroit. 

Seattle Seahawks head coach and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Macdonald was hired by Seattle on Wednesday and officially introduced by the franchise on Thursday. 

Macdonald was viewed as a top candidate for multiple jobs after his work turning the Ravens' defense into the best in football. The Ravens allowed the fewest points per game (60), led the league in sacks (60) and were tied for first in turnovers (31) with the New York Giants. 

Under Macdonald in his second season as the defensive coordinator, multiple players had career years and made the Associated Press All-Pro teams. Linebacker Roquan Smith and second-year safety Kyle Hamilton made the AP first-team All-Pro, while defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and linebacker Patrick Queen made the second team.

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Quinn potentially being the team's third or fourth option isn't the best from a PR standpoint, but optics related to who the Commanders hired as their head coach won't win football games. He made an immense impact on the Dallas Cowboys' defense in his three seasons as the defensive coordinator, as they went from one of the worst units in 2020 after ranking 28th in points allowed per game to being in the top seven in points allowed per game from 2021 to 2023. 

Quinn will have to guide a similar turnaround, not just for a defense that was dead last in points and yards allowed per game, but for a franchise that severely underperformed in 2023 after going 4-13. If Quinn can rebuild the Commanders into contenders, it won't matter which option he was for the franchise.