Tag: Bobby Slowik

TeX’s and O’s: Joe Mixon brings needed dimension to Houston’s offense

Joe Mixon provides the Houston Texans with a much-needed upgrade at the running back position if they want to elevate the offense.

The drumbeat had been remarkably steady.

For weeks, local fans of the Houston Texans and national media alike clamored for the team to add a star running back. Whether it was a high-profile free agent like New York star Saquon Barkley or 2022 first-team All-Pro Josh Jacobs, everyone saw the Texans as a team well-positioned to make the move.

The decision to add a truly elite threat to the backfield in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s run-first offense alongside NFL Offensive Rookie C.J. Stroud seemed logical. Devin Singletary led the Texans in 2023 but didn’t break 900 rushing yards and the team as a whole finished 22nd in rushing yards and 29th in yards per attempt.

Instead, general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans opted for a different direction. Houston traded for longtime Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon for a 2024 seven-round selection. They subsequently extended Mixon on a three-year contract worth $27 million in total value.

Mixon is a talented player. The Bengals drafted the University of Oklahoma product with the 48th pick of the 2017 NFL draft. Since then, Mixon rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four of his seven NFL seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and has 62 total touchdowns over his career. Mixon’s excellent play had previously netted him a four-year, $48 million extension in 2020.

Despite that, this still wasn’t the caliber of signing of a Barkley or Jacobs. Mixon has never led the league in rushing, been a first team All-Pro or carried that designation as a franchise-changing back. What caused the Texans to look in this direction instead of what everyone had penciled in?

While many hoped Houston would add someone that could serve as the “engine” or primary driver of their offense, in reality the Texans went for a more complimentary role. In that note, the Texans opted for more of an “All-Wheel Drive” feature for the offense. Mixon won’t win them the race, but he can keep them on schedule and out of the mud.

General manager Nick Caserio said of the recently signed Mixon on Sports Radio 610 that Mixon “is a player that has been a very consistent, very productive, very durable player over the last few years. He’s usually out there. He’s got good balance, a good running style, he’s versatile and can play in the passing game.”

Indeed, the tape shows a player that’s tailor-fit for this role in Slowik’s offense for all those reasons.

Mixon is a powerful, decisive runner with ample experience in running the zone scheme. He has the patience to allow runs to develop and offers explosiveness to those gaps once present. Mixon’s strength may be his greatest asset, as his forward momentum often moves defenders and he gains additional yards after contact either shedding tacklers or bringing them with him.

It’s not just the film. He’s had a Pro Football Focus rushing grade more than 70 for each of the past three seasons and still averaged 4.0 yards per carry this past season despite Joe Burrow going down with a season-ending injury. He’s been a phenomenal runner in multiple circumstances and schemes for the Bengals.

Mixon showed throughout his career he’s capable of handling a large volume rushing role and the same should be expected on the Texans. His physicality will help to wear down defenses over the course of the game and his vision should maximize runs as they materialize in Slowik’s gap scheme. The offensive line should not only be healthier in 2024 but also will have the benefit of experience on their side, Mixon is a savvy veteran who can help Houston to realize any gains that unit collectively makes.

Although not considered a home-run hitter, Mixon still has the relative explosiveness and speed that, when combined with how decisive of a runner he is, translates to big gains. He’ll provide chunk plays to Houston’s steady diet of runs without the kind of questionable decision making that can lead to big losses and throwing the offensive script off schedule.

What about the passing game? One of the primary perks of adding a Barkley was that the running back could further contribute to their own value by catching passes. Unfortunately, Mixon does not have this same attribute but can still contribute in simpler ways.

He was often tasked as an outlet option in the Bengals offense and also saw a good volume of screen plays. Cincinnati worked to get Mixon the ball when the defense was overly aggressive or too focused on their perimeter weapons — something that Houston is similarly well positioned to capitalize on.

His qualities as a runner translate very well when catching the ball and facing linebackers in space as well as when he’s given blockers to work behind on screen plays. Mixon is someone that can be motioned out wide as a decoy or thrown the ball in motion as someone who is still an unpleasant tackle for any defensive back.

It’s an excellent fit in an offense that doesn’t need their running back to be everything. Stroud is the primary driver with his elite processing and accuracy, while receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz remain matchup nightmares at their respective positions. Mixon is a great fit to ensure they see favorable passing scenarios while also being able to benefit off the attention that group absolutely demands horizontally.

If Mixon is such a perfect fit, why was the cost so cheap? Why isn’t he being paid as much as others?

His perfect fit for this offense is a near coincidence of his current skillset overlapping with Houston’s need. He still is not a splash play runner at this stage of his career and there are fair concerns over his ability on third down that go beyond his ability as a receiver.

Cincinnati did not appear to trust the veteran back as a blocker in 2023. They often leaned on running back Trayveon Williams or even tight end Drew Sample on third down to protect their quarterback. A back who isn’t capable of protecting his quarterback and picking up the blitz is an inherently limited player. In this way, the Texans will have to independently evaluate how much they trust Mixon.

The best case scenario will be that he can rebound as a pass protector in 2024, potentially serving as an every-down bell cow back for Houston. The worst case may be that the Texans need to seriously invest in a true third-down back for scenarios where they need additional protection to buy time for Stroud to pass.

Regardless, the fit is largely clear between the veteran and his new team.

Mixon will help the offense to stay on schedule and hopefully provide Slowik with a back that is more capable of maximizing the offensive line and the runs that develop on outside zone. His ability to handle high volume combined with his physicality leads to a difficult player for defenses to assess throughout the game and someone who can be used on all three downs.

The Texans upgraded at running back, regardless of questions over just how much. Now, they’ll have to see if their savvy investment in the veteran can lead to the type of return they’re hoping for in the run game to alleviate Stroud.

TeX’s and O’s: Saquon Barkey could bring lethal edge to Texans’ offense

If the Texans are looking to take their offense to the next level, adding Saquon Barkley could do the trick

It is approaching Saquon Barkley mania in Houston.

After a crushing loss to the Baltimore Ravens 34-10 in the AFC Divisional Round, the goals for the Houston Texans’ offense have been abundantly clear. If they want to compete with the cream of the conference, including Baltimore and the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, they have to find ways to more effectively run the ball.

With major investments already made along the offensive line, including three of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league, the focus has naturally gone to the running back position. From there, the dream pairing has been obvious to everyone.

National analysts, fantasy football fans, and the Texans’ own diehards all share a common sentiment that it would be incredible to watch free agent Saquon Barkley join rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the rest of an extremely talented offense under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

In the last two weeks, Barkley has done nothing to stop the speculation. In fact, despite public comments that he would like to play in New York, he has thrown more fuel on the fire.

Barkley followed Stroud, wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, incumbent starting running back Devin Singletary, franchise legend J.J. Watt, and tight end Brevin Jordan on Instagram last week. He also liked a tweet from Houston rapper Paul Wall recruiting him to come to the team.

KPRC reporter Aaron Wilson confirmed the interest on Sunday when he reported that Barkley reached out to members of the team, including Stroud, to express his interest in joining Texans.

The fit, at least at a glance, could not be more clear. A team that desperately needs to improve how they run the ball and find ways to take pressure off of their quarterback could add one of the most dynamic backfield weapons in the NFL. It isn’t very hard to tie the connections together and why Barkley, who is seeking a payday from one of the NFL’s teams with ample cap space, would be interested in the opportunity to compete while securing the money he’s earned.

Is it too good to be true?

Barkley is coming off a 2023 campaign where he played in 14 games and carried the rock 247 times for 962 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry and also chipped in 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. It was a sharp decrease from his 2022 campaign, where he made the Pro Bowl, rushed for 1300 yards and helped guide the Giants to the playoffs.

On paper, he represents an explosive vertical runner who could maximize Houston’s investments on the offensive line and get the most out of their commitment to the running game. They just have to ensure that they’re getting one of the better versions of Barkley compared to last year.

However, that small decline is one of two main questions regarding how Barkley would really fit as a runner under Slowik.

This decrease could logically be attributed to playing on a failing offense under quarterbacks Tommy Devito and Tyrod Taylor while Daniel Jones was injured. The Giants were considered one of the least talented offenses in the NFL and he naturally received the bulk of defense’s attention from that standpoint.

It’s very fair to believe that Barkley would improve immensely behind Houston’s superior offensive line and with defenses forced to account for weapons such as Collins, Dell, and tight end Dalton Schultz. In fact, New York Giants reporter Dan Schneier believes that it should be one of the biggest reasons the Texans should believe in Barkley.

“Ultimately, playing alongside C.J. Stroud will be the biggest difference for Barkley.” Schneier said told Texans Wire when asked about the free-agent running back’s potential fit in Houston.”It will be the first time in his career he’s played with elite or borderline elite QB production.”

Defenses would certainly have to account for Stroud in the threat of play action on any down. However, last season’s offensive tendencies would suggest that the Texans will still run the ball plenty. This has led to some concerns over how Barkley would succeed in the Shanahan-style zone running scheme, contrary to the power gap mechanisms that he thrived in early in his career and at Penn State.

The data doesn’t suggest that the new playbook would be a problem either.

Barkley ran predominantly zone in 2023, with his four highest-graded rushing performances of the season, per PFF, coming in games where he saw 11-plus zone carries. Giants head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have run a variable offense that has helped mature Barkley into a more patient runner who is willing to take what is blocked for him rather than always hunting home runs. On that note, Schneier also believes the past two seasons have well prepared him for the transition.

“Over the last two seasons under Daboll & Kafka, Barkley has made significant changes to his running style – getting vertical faster,” he said of the runner’s maturation. “This could help him transition to Slowik’s scheme faster.

If you believe that Barkley will both rebound with a legitimate supporting cast and is prepared for how Houston wants to run the ball, it’s an easy fit to get behind. However, this still might not justify the level of pay that Barkley will likely command at over $10 million per season. What differentiates him from other players who could succeed running the ball with the support of this offense?

Look no further than motion and the passing game.

Last season, Barkley ranked in just the top 20 in running back targets. The Giant’s offensive ineptitude was demonstrated by the back seeing his second-lowest volume of targets ever in a season where he was healthy. However, in the year prior, 2022, when New York’s offense was functional, he ranked sixth with 76 targets. In fact, across his career, Barkley has had over 40 receptions in five of his six seasons in the NFL and he represents a versatile player who can contribute through the air.

Barkley is capable of taking screen passes to the house, serving as a late checkdown, or even lining up wide on the line of scrimmage. From the line of scrimmage, he can run quick routes, crossers, or even be incorporated into sweep concepts that demand attention from the defense and spread heavy personnel thin.

It would add another weapon to threaten defenses on the perimeter, but it becomes even more intriguing when considering Slowik’s love of motion. Barkley demands attention from defenders whenever he moves, even when plays are not designed to get him the ball. This could be sequenced together with the rest of Houston’s dynamic offensive players for an offense that becomes infuriating to stop.

A runningback who punishes defenses when he carries the ball, threatens defenses vertically and horizontally when running routes, and further distracts and exhausts them even when the play is not designed to go his way. It’s exactly the type of player that could make this offense lethal; just look at how the San Francisco 49ers have evolved with the presence of Christian McCaffrey.

There are fair concerns outside of Barkley’s football fit that are worth addressing.

Barkley could demand upwards of $12 million per year on a multi-year contract. While the rest of the league works towards spending less money on the running back position and saving costs there, this would represent going completely against convention. The team will also likely need to win a bidding war against other franchises looking to add the dynamic back in free agency.

Fortunately, the financial situation in Houston is different from the rest of the league. They not only have a great deal of salary cap space, but they also have the luxury of a rookie quarterback and most of their marquee players currently playing on rookie deals. If there was ever a team that could afford a short, front-loaded contract for a running back, the Houston Texans would be that team.

The other concern would be Barkley’s injury history. He played in only two games in 2020 and, despite playing in 13 games in 2021, he was only able to carry 162 times and ran for less than 600 yards. He is 27 years old and carries the common concern that teams do not want to be the ones that pay for a second-contract running back and witness their decline

This is an inherent risk of signing Barkley but one that the Texans may feel comfortable with due to their ability to alleviate his workload by leaning on elite quarterback play. It also would not be out of the question for Houston to sign another high end backup to further make sure that their star running back can stay healthy

Overall, this assessment makes as much sense on the deep dive as it does on the surface level.

Barkley has the chance to add a dynamic edge to the Texans’ offense and create one of the most balanced attacks in the NFL. What he could represent for Slowik, both with his ability to carry the ball and his presence on motion concepts, could allow every player in the offense to be a better version of themselves.

If the money makes sense and the interest is indeed mutual, this one seems like a perfect pairing. Fans will just have to wait to see if general manager Nick Caserio can deliver on their offseason dream.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023 No. 5 Nico Collins

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is Nico Collins, who had a career year.

The Houston Texans had an extremely successful 2023 campaign.

They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.

With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.

This series has taken a look at defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, running back Devin Singletary, rookie receiver Tank Dell, and veteran tackle George Fant, and upstart linebacker Blake Cashman.

Entering the top 10, we took a closer look at cornerback Steven Nelson and linebacker Christian Harris, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and budding shutdown cornerback Derek Stingley

Entering the top five, the Texans offense takes center stage with none other than standout third-year wideout Nico Collins.

Why Eric Bieniemy would be a perfect addition for Texans

John Crumpler states his case for Eric Bieniemy to replace former Texans senior offensive assistant in Shane Day.

The Kansas City Chiefs secured their second consecutive Super Bowl title and third championship in five seasons this past Sunday. Under the guidance of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have officially entered dynasty territory and will be discussed as one of the best NFL teams ever assembled.

Much focus goes towards the greatness of Mahomes and the inevitability that he brings where Kansas City will almost certainly have a chance to win the game regardless of what happens. It’s deserved praise for a player that will certainly compete with Tom Brady for the title of greatest quarterback of all time by the time this is over.

However, one storyline is grossly underscored in the Chiefs dynasty — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Spagnuolo was hired by Reid in 2019 and has turned the Chiefs defense from poor to serviceable and now elite under his stewardship. Kansas City had one of the youngest, yet best defenses in the NFL in 2023 and is showing no signs of slowing down entering 2024. A huge part of that is the assured presence of Spagnuolo. He signed a contract extension on Tuesday with the Chiefs and represents one of the biggest advantages in football for Reid.

The head coach never has to worry about losing his coordinator that specializes in the other side of the football. Reid can focus on working on the offense with Mahomes and whoever is serving as offensive coordinator, while Spagnuolo brings a wealth of experience and pedigree towards handling the defense.

It’s an advantage many franchises in the NFL would love to have and it begs the question of how the Houston Texans could find their own version of it.

That answer could potentially be available for head coach DeMeco Ryans if they were to look towards Kansas City.

Eric Bieniemy has had an interesting time in the NFL. He served as offensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 2018-22 before taking the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator job in 2023. Each of the last five coaching cycles have seen Bieniemy go through the head coach interview process after piloting highly successful offenses. Even after a down year in Washington, Bieniemy was still considered for the Commanders lead job.

Despite that, Bieniemy has been unable to land the top job. In fact, new Washington head coach Dan Quinn even declined to retain him on his new staff for their incoming rookie quarterback. The reasons for this are unclear, and likely very complex from team to team, but it appears the odds of a head coach career in the NFL for Bieniemy are unlikely at this stage.

In this way, Bieniemy suddenly appears as an offensive equivalent to Spagnuolo. Someone with ample success in the NFL, years of experience on their side of the football, and yet with little chance at ever being promoted beyond the coordinator role.

Recently, the Texans lost their senior offensive assistant in Shane Day to the Los Angeles Chargers. The opening begs the question of if Bieniemy could be brought in as a replacement, and potentially as a future Spagnuolo to Ryans’ Reid.

Bieniemy would bring diverse offensive concepts from a highly respected coaching tree under Reid. He showed off in Washington an offense that wants to lean on the quarterback, as evidenced by their volume of passing attempts despite shaky quarterback play throughout the season. His experience as a running backs coach from 2013-17 would also lend itself to helping the run game.

Marrying these concepts with the skeleton of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s scheme that is based on principles taken from Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco could yield a new and innovative offense for quarterback C.J. Stroud to pilot.

Speaking of Stroud, Bieniemy has plenty of experience working with budding elite quarterbacks. He oversaw the launch of Mahomes’ career and helped guide the offense as it transitioned identities after the departure of elite receiver Tyreek Hill. He knows how to work with that caliber of talent and how to work with rosters that have varying strengths.

Finally, Bieniemy could stop the brain drain.

Slowik is assumed around the league to be a top candidate for head coaching jobs in the 2025 cycle. Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, his likely successor, could very well follow that path as well the following year based on the league’s propensity to hunt young, innovative offensive minds.

Bieniemy could help them shape the offense and, when inevitably both are lost to head coaching opportunities, takeover offensive play-calling with the full trust of both Ryans and Stroud by that point. He represents a commodity that is unlikely to be poached by opposing teams.

Altogether, from both his career path and experience, Bieniemy offers an enticing option for the Texans both in replacing Shane Day and working to find true continuity as the offensive coordinator spot for DeMeco Ryans in a league that is constantly turning over that position.

His talent is one Houston should consider if they could pry him away from returning to Kansas City to assist with a potential three-peat. How they plan to address that spot on the staff will have to wait.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023: No. 8 Bobby Slowik

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is Bobby Slowik, who helped unlock rookie C.J. Stroud.

The Houston Texans had an extremely successful 2023 campaign.

They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.

With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.

This series has taken a look at defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, running back Devin Singletary, rookie receiver Tank Dell, and veteran tackle George Fant, and upstart linebacker Blake Cashman.

Entering the top 10, we took a closer look at cornerback Steven Nelson and linebacker Christian Harris. Now, rookie offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik takes the spotlight.

Texans OC Bobby Slowik also off the table for Seahawks head coach job

According to Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated, he got a significant raise to stay.

If the Seahawks had their hearts set on hiring one of the NFL’s bright young offensive minds, their options have diminished this week. Yesterday we learned that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson told Seattle and Washington that he’s staying in Detroit to try to win a Super Bowl.

We also learned that Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is staying in Houston. According to Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated, he got a significant raise to stay.

Slowik did brilliant work this season with C.J. Stroud, who had the best rookie season of any quarterback since Cam Newton and has a skillset that’s similar to Geno Smith’s.

It would have been interesting to see what Slowik or Johnson might have done with this Seattle offense, but the team still has choices if they want to go this route, defying the conventional wisdom that they’re looking for a defensive candidate. According to the latest reporting from ESPN, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is a candidate to watch if they don’t end up hiring Mike Macdonald.

More Seahawks Wire stories

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8 grades for Seattle rookies from the 2023 NFL season

Bobby Slowik, Jerrod Johnson elect to run it back with Texans in 2024

The Texans return two key offensive coaches in Bobby Slowik and Jerrod Johnson, who chose to stay in Houston for the 2024 season.

After the Houston Texans season ended with a crushing 34-10 loss in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, quarterback C.J. Stroud was ready to “Run It Back” immediately. With the amount of success the Texans had this season, with 11 total wins, they want that feeling of exhilaration from the victories and the fans.

Stroud, the odds-on favorite to win the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is securely in place to lead the franchise for the next few years. So is most of his offensive line led by 2023 Pro Bowl starter Laremy Tunsil when you add in wide receiver Tank Dell, the potential of Nico Collins being signed to a long-term deal, and additions to the running back position through free agency or the draft.

The only uncertainty was if the Texans would have offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik back to design plays and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson helping Stroud improve for another season.

Slowik, who like Stroud is also in contention to be recognized as the 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas, has been interviewed by numerous teams such as the Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers since the end of the Texans season.

Yet, according to confirmed league sources, he has decided that the best course of action was for him to stay and finish what he started with his friend, head coach DeMeco Ryans, who gave Slowik an opportunity to call plays for the first time in his career based on the relationship he formed with him during their days with the San Francisco 49ers.

“I knew he was going to push me hard,” Stroud said about Slowik’s approach with him. “He was going to be hard on me. He held me to a standard all year. He held me accountable. A lot of times when you’re playing good ball, guys, they kind of let you do what you do and leave you alone. Bobby was always on me about the little details in my position, and I appreciated that because you don’t always get that. He was always just hard on me, but also showed me a lot of love – a ton of love.”

This season has been an incredible ride for quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, who, like Slowik, appreciated the opportunities he was given to interview this offseason.

Johnson, who played quarterback at Texas A&M University, was a candidate for the offensive coordinator jobs with the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but instead stayed loyal to the Houston Texans franchise and coach Ryans, according to confirmed league sources. It was Ryans who gave him the opportunity to come back home (Johnson is a Houston native) and help develop Stroud, who finished the season with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He also led the league with 273.9 yards per game.

“I’ve known Jerrod since I was 16,” Stroud said about Johnson in his final interview with the media to end the season. “One thing that I can say about Jerrod, you talk about somehow who knows how to play the position of quarterback and knows how to relay something, but also just a great person. A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas. Someone who has just taught me a tremendous amount of information, but on top of that, put a lot of confidence into me as well.”

“When I was 16 at the Elite 11, we did like this little circle group; it was like all the quarterbacks in my group. Jerrod’s one thing for me was like, ‘Be confident.’ At that time, I wasn’t really the highest recruit. I wasn’t who I would become. I always knew it would be a possibility, but I didn’t hear those type of – Jerrod is someone I looked up to. When he was like, ‘Man, you need to be more confident,’ it changed my life. From there, fast forward, and now I’m here with him in my rookie year; it’s been just a blessing to work with him. I’m excited for him, and he deserves everything that’s coming for him. I’m super blessed to be able to work with him and Bobbly [Slowik].”

Houston’s abysmal offense improved from 25th in passing yards per game in 2022 to fifth in 2023 under Slowik’s and Johnson’s guidance this season.

Ravens chances of keeping DC Mike Macdonald dwindle after Ben Johnson stays with Lions

Ravens DC Mike Macdonald is now the top coaching candidate for Commanders and Sehawks after Ben Johnson stays with the Detroit Lions

Two head coaching vacancies remain (Commanders-Seahawks) ahead of this week’s NFL Pro Bowl, and Mike Macdonald could be the top choice for both teams after Ben Johnson’s announcement.

The Lions offensive coordinator has removed his name from interest for the two remaining jobs, choosing to run it back with the Detroit Lions after reaching the NFC title game.

With Johnson bowing out, Baltimore will likely lose their offensive coordinator unless something outrageous occurs.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could be the answer for Seattle or Washington.

In contrast, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is another rising name and could be a candidate for both jobs as well.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023: No. 13 Tank Dell

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is WR Tank Dell, whose promising rookie season was cut short due to injury.

The Houston Texans had an unbelievable year.

After three consecutive, dreadful campaigns in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, they turned things around in a big way under first year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

In a season that saw players step up across the board, it’s a fruitful exercise to look at who made the biggest impact on the Texans making such a dramatic leap and if they’re likely to repeat that same type of performance in 2024.

This list is counting through the Top 15 Most Impactful Texans, with Sheldon Rankins and Devin Singletary already receiving well-deserved nods. Now, attention turns to the explosive rookie wide receiver Tank Dell.

Report: Ravens DC Mike Macdonald and others still in play for Commanders’ head coaching opening

Mike Macdonald, Dan Quinn and others remain in contention for Washington along with the presumed leader, Ben Johnson.

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.