Louis Riddick knows a thing or two about the NFL. The former NFL safety spent 14 seasons between Washington and Philadelphia, working in the front office. Beginning his front-office career as a scout, Riddick was the director of pro personnel for both Washington and Philadelphia.
Since then, Riddick has become one of ESPN’s top analysts while still interviewing for open general manager positions. Some believe it’s only a matter of time before Riddick receives the opportunity to run his own team.
With his work at ESPN preparing for the 2023 NFL draft, Riddick spent last week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. In addition to seeing some of the NFL’s top prospects, Riddick got an up-close look at several rising coaches.
One of those coaches was Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London. With a new Senior Bowl format that has rising coaches around the league working as coordinators and position coaches for the week, London was the offensive coordinator for the American team.
Does that name sound familiar to Washington fans?
London is one of six candidates known to have interviewed with Commanders head coach Ron Rivera for Washington’s vacant offensive coordinator position. In addition, London has reportedly also interviewed with the Tennessee Titans this offseason.
At last week’s Senior Bowl, Riddick came away impressed with London, labeling him a “freakin star” on Twitter.
I’m going to let you all in on something.
Current #Falcons QB Coach Charles London was elevated to the role of OC for the American Team for the #SeniorBowl. I’ve known Charles for years, and if you watched our practice coverage this week. You noticed : HE IS A FREAKIN’ STAR!!
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) February 3, 2023
London is an intriguing candidate. The former Duke running back has steadily moved up in the coaching ranks. He began his coaching career at his alma mater before moving to the Chicago Bears in 2007 as a quality control assistant.
After three years with the Bears, London spent the 2011 season with the Titans. In 2012, he was Bill O’Brien’s running backs coach at Penn State before following him to the NFL with the Houston Texans in the same position for the next four seasons. London returned to Chicago in 2018, where he coached running backs for three seasons before joining Arthur Smith’s staff as quarterbacks coach with the Falcons in 2021.
NFL teams clearly view London as a rising star. And with his knowledge of Atltanta’s outstanding running game, it shouldn’t be too long before London lands his first offensive coordinator job.
Riddick believes that the time is now.
Washington still hasn’t named an offensive coordinator and is believed to be waiting to interview Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after the Super Bowl. Therefore, London remains in play for the Commanders.
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