Almost everyone believes that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be the next head coach of the Washington Commanders. Multiple NFL insiders have gone on record, with some saying it’s a “foregone conclusion” that Johnson will be Washington’s next head coach.
Per a new report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, not so fast.
While Schefter said Johnson could indeed be Washington’s next head coach, calling him the “presumptive favorite” may be premature.
There are some who have viewed Johnson as the “presumptive favorite” for the Washington job, but multiple sources insist that is not true. While Johnson could land the Commanders head coaching job, sources insist that there are other strong candidates — most notably Macdonald, Weaver, Glenn and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn — who still are “very much in play.”
Johnson, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Ravens associate head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will all coach in Sunday’s conference championship games. Quinn’s Cowboys were eliminated two weeks ago, and he will meet with Washington for a second time this week.
The Commanders are traveling to Detroit to conduct second interviews with Johnson and Glenn.
Quinn has been linked to Seattle — where he served as defensive coordinator for three seasons under Pete Carroll — since Carroll and the Seahawks parted ways. And while Seattle and Washington could’ve already hired Quinn instead of waiting, both franchises have chosen to wait.
Schefter said the Seahawks haven’t had the chance to interview Macdonald but did interview Johnson. That means Seattle can’t interview Macdonald until after Baltimore’s season ends. However, the Seahawks can interview Johnson this week since it did have a virtual interview with him last week.
The Commanders and Seahawks have both interviewed Johnson, Quinn and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
While Washington may be interested in Quinn, it does feel like this is setting up to be a Johnson vs. Macdonald battle for the Commanders, with Johnson still the favorite.
We shall see.