Former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator and current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is headed back to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers defeated the Detroit Lions 34-31 Sunday in the NFC championship game, meaning former Washington players Trent Williams and Chase Young will also be playing in two weeks in the Super Bowl.
What sort of emotional roller coaster must this day have been for newly hired Commanders GM Adam Peters?
The Lions kept pounding the ball, rushing for 148 yards and accumulating 280 total yards en route to a 24-7 halftime lead.
If that result had held, Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was therefore not going to be available to be hired this week.
On the other hand, the Ravens had lost to the Chiefs earlier on Sunday in the AFC championship game. This meant Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald could be interviewed again this week and be hired this week as well.
However, the 49ers dominated both sides of the ball in the third quarter, outscoring the Lions 17-0, tying the game at 24-24 heading into the final quarter.
The 49ers having Deebo Samuel back from injury a week earlier against the Packers was huge, as Samuel collected eight receptions for 89 yards. The 49ers offense got moving in the second half, and Brock Purdy finished 20 of 31 for 267 yards.
Now it is the 49ers going to the Super Bowl. Johnson, instead of scheming up an offensive game plan against the Chiefs for the Super Bowl, is available after all.
Johnson seems to be the favorite for the Washington Commanders’ opening at head coach. If the Commanders like how he interviews this week, Peters could have the man he wants to lead the Commanders for the next decade.
Peters has apparently been doing his homework and thus has managed to maintain his backup plan as well. He has already interviewed Dan Quinn once and is still planning on a follow-up interview this week.
Commanders fans have nearly in unison been very strongly opposed to the idea of Quinn becoming the next head coach of the burgundy and gold.
However, what if the interviews with Johnson and Macdonald result in Peters determining he would rather have someone with some NFL head coaching experience?
Well, Quinn has been the DC for the Cowboys and Seahawks. He was also a head coach in Atlanta and led the Falcons to an NFC championship and a 28-3 lead against the Patriots in a Super Bowl. Peters also might consider he would rather have Quinn than see Quinn as the next Dallas head coach when the contract with Mike McCarthy expires.
Whether it’s Johnson, Macdonald or Quinn, the Commanders could have their man by the end of the week.