After the Washington Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera on Jan. 8, several NFL insiders identified Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their likely top target.
But first, Washington needed to hire a general manager. After a thorough but rapid search that saw the Commanders interview five candidates, they hired former 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters.
Washington has interviewed eight known candidates for head coach:
- Ravens associate head coach/DL coach Anthony Weaver
- Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald
- Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
- Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
- Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy
- Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
- Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
- Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris
Earlier this week, CBS Sports analyst — and former NFL quarterback — Boomer Esiason said Johnson to Washington was a “lock.” Still, the Commanders have been busy scheduling second interviews throughout the week. Washington will reportedly fly to Detroit after Sunday’s NFC Championship Game to speak with Johnson and Glenn for the second time.
The Commanders are tentatively scheduled to interview Quinn again next week, too.
However, another NFL insider weighed in on Washington’s search for a head coach. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington said on Friday that it’s a “foregone conclusion” the Commanders will hire Johnson.
“It is a pretty foregone conclusion in Washington, albeit one that we’ll have to wait on to see with certainty, that Ben Johnson will wind up being the coach of the Commanders after the Lions’ season ends,” Darlington said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” via Marlowe Alter of the Detroit Free Press.
If the Lions lose to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, Washington can hire Johnson next week.
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