Tag: Coaching Search

NFL insider says Ben Johnson ‘didn’t interview particularly well’

Some good information on why Ben Johnson didn’t become Washington’s head coach.

For weeks, the biggest open secret in NFL circles was that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was slated to be the next head coach of the Washington Commanders.

Until he wasn’t.

After numerous media members called Johnson to Washington a “lock” or his signing with the Commanders a “foregone conclusion,” on Tuesday, as Washington was on a flight to interview him a second time, Johnson texted Commanders’ brass and said he was staying in Detroit.

Fans were stunned. Media members were shocked. How did this happen? Washington fans were dreaming of pairing a top-flight GM [Adam Peters] with the hottest offensive coach on the market and a fresh young quarterback.

It wasn’t meant to be, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter pumped the brakes on Johnson to Washington on Monday while all of his peers remained confident.

Schefter was right.

Why did Johnson withdraw his name from all coaching opportunities and return to Detroit? While he said he had unfinished business with the Lions, it’s almost unheard of for a coaching candidate as hot as Johnson to back out of head coaching opportunities in two consecutive years.

On Thursday, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network joined the “Puck & Jim Show” out of Seattle and gave some insight into the Washington and Seattle head coaching moves. Johnson was a reported finalist for both jobs.

Why didn’t Johnson land a job?

“I don’t think he interviewed particularly well,” Garafolo said. “Johnson withdrew, and he withdrew as Washington was coming to see him, which did not go over well at all with the Washington organization. But, I believe he withdrew from two coaching searches that he wouldn’t have gotten the job anyway. So, that’s the old ‘I’m not fired, I quit,’ one of those deals. So, I don’t think he really bowled people over in the interview process at all. And I’ve heard that his personality, you know, he’s very smart, very bright, a great play-caller, but I’ve heard that his personality is kind of…..not the most gregarious guy. Not a Mike Macdonald-type guy or even a Dan Quinn-type guy, so I think that came across in the interview process. My belief is that he came into this; Adam Peters had Ben Johnson as his guy. And Adam Peters was not the only one making the decision there in Washington. Which is not to say he was undermined, but [advisor] Rick Spielman was involved,  Josh Harris, obviously the owner of the organization, [advisor] Bob Myers involved as well, so four people who came to a collective decision, and it was not going to be Ben Johnson.”

So, why would Washington fly out to interview him after it was determined that he wasn’t the guy?

“Became they were going to see him and [defensive coordinator] Aaron Glenn, and they don’t like the fact they are making this trip, and you can’t tell us before we get off the ground? Give me a break. Yes, they were interviewing him as part of the process, but I do not believe that he was the leading candidate at the time he withdrew,” Garafolo said.

“In fact, I think he was pretty low on their list at that point. And it was Anthony Weaver, defensive line coach of the Ravens, who did extremely well. I heard great things about him. Aaron Glenn was eliminated, I believe, late last night. So I think it was down to Weaver and Dan Quinn. So they had other guys they really hit it off better with than Ben Johnson.”

Garafolo confirmed that Washington was in on Macdonald, and Quinn was higher on the list than Johnson. Garafolo praised the Quinn hire.

So, for those who say Peters and Washington bungled the process, it sounds more like Johnson bungled the process, and maybe the Commanders dodged a bullet. That’s not to say Johnson isn’t an excellent offensive coordinator, but perhaps he realized he wasn’t ready to become a head coach.

Commanders hire Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as head coach

Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach.

The Washington Commanders have a head coach. On Thursday, Washington hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

This is Quinn’s second head coaching opportunity. He served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-20, where he finished with a 43-42 record and a 3-2 postseason record. Quinn is best known for being the head coach for the Falcons’ team that blew a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots.

Quinn was fired in 2020 and became the Cowboys defensive coordinator in 2021. In three seasons in charge of the Dallas defense, Quinn led the Cowboys to a top-five finish in defensive DVOA, per FTN.

Quinn, 53, was a standout defensive end at Salisbury University (Maryland) and is in the school’s Hall of Fame. He began his coaching career with William & Mary in 1995.

Quinn’s first NFL opportunity came with San Francisco in 2001, and he served as defensive line coach for the 49ers, Dolphins, Jets, and Seahawks before he took over as Pete Carroll’s defensive coordinator in Seattle in 2013.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was the presumed frontrunner for Washington’s head coaching job but pulled out on Tuesday while the team was on a plane to Detroit for his second interview.

Where are the Commanders in their search for a new coach?

What’s the latest on Washington’s head coaching search?

The 2024 NFL hiring cycle is now completed, as each NFL head coach opening has been filled.

Oh wait, there is that one opening that is frustrating for Washington fans. Is the cause-and-effect relationship of Daniel Snyder owning the team still producing such negative perceptions that the Commanders are still being rejected?

We don’t really know at this time. Could it be Washington owner Josh Harris and new GM Adam Peters have set boundaries or standards, and it is, in fact, Washington that has yet to make the move?

Wednesday saw Ravens’ DC Mike Macdonald accept the Seahawks head coaching position, though Macdonald’s wife is from the DMV area and was even a cheerleader for the Redskins!

During this hiring cycle, the Chargers have hired Jim Harbaugh, the Falcons grabbed Raheem Morris. The Titans made Brian Callahan their new man, while the Raiders promoted former Washington linebacker Antonio Pierce from interim head coach to head coach.

Jerod Mayo was the man Robert Kraft wanted to follow Bill Belichick in New England. Panthers owner David Tepper tapped the least known of the candidates, Dave Canales, for their new head coach.

Might it be that the Commanders have actually been rejected this hiring cycle, each time they have asked for a date to the dance?

What about Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn? Why have the Commanders interviewed Quinn a second time and not yet named him their head coach? We don’t know the reason, but we do know it takes two to agree to dance.

If Harris and Peters really wanted Quinn, hasn’t he been available to be hired since the Cowboys Wild Card round playoff loss to the Packers? Does Quinn really want to come to Washington? Or might Quinn actually be willing to wait one more season in Dallas for their head coaching job next offseason?

Now that all the other head coaching jobs are taken, what is the hurry for the Commanders? They could theoretically take their time, introducing another prospect they have yet to interview. For example, might Peters now be interested in Mike Vrabel?

Or might they now limit the list of prospects to three: Aaron Glenn (Lions DC), Anthony Weaver (Ravens DL), and Dan Quinn?

The search continues for the Commanders.

One thing we should all recognize by now is that we have no idea where they are in their process.

Do the Commanders have a mystery head coaching candidate?

Four of the initial eight candidates to interview with Washington remain available.

And then there was one.

After the Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms with Mike Macdonald, the former Ravens defensive coordinator, on Wednesday to become their new head coach, the Washington Commanders were the only remaining head coaching vacancy.

On Tuesday, the perceived top candidate, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, surprised everyone by withdrawing his name. Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who interviewed with Washington, was announced as returning to Houston. It’s unknown how serious of a candidate Slowik was for the Commanders.

Washington fans clamored for Macdonald. There wasn’t as much enthusiasm for Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Entering this week, we know that Washington has interviewed the following eight candidates:

  • Lions OC Ben Johnson (remaining in Detroit)
  • Lions DC Aaron Glenn
  • Ravens DC Mike Macdonald (Seattle)
  • Ravens AHC/DL coach Anthony Weaver
  • Commanders OC Eric Bieniemy
  • Texans OC Bobby Slowik (remaining in Houston)
  • Rams DC Raheem Morris (Atlanta)
  • Cowboys DC Dan Quinn (Cowboys)

So, if we go by this list, four candidates remain. How serious of a candidate is Bieniemy? Or was this a courtesy interview because he was in the organization last year?

By all accounts, Quinn, Weaver and Glenn are the final candidates. We’ve heard rave reviews about Quinn and Weaver, but if one of them is Washington’s guy, why haven’t they been hired?

What if there is another candidate we don’t know about? It’s not going to be Bill Belichick. What about Mike Vrabel? How about Dolphins OC Frank Smith? Is there someone else?

Could Peters be waiting to interview someone from Kansas City or San Francisco’s staff after the Super Bowl? The two logical candidates would be 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Since the Commanders are the only team remaining with a vacancy, they may not feel the urgency to get something done. But the new head coach will need to complete his coaching staff. And if Washington lands a defensive-minded coach — which looks like a certainty — it must land a quality offensive coordinator.

The Commanders could expand their search. However, that appears doubtful as all signs point to either Quinn, Glenn, or Weaver at this point.

Martin Mayhew to remain with the Commanders

Mayhew is with GM Adam Peters at the Senior Bowl.

New Washington general manager Adam Peters is conducting his first coaching search. Meanwhile, the Reese’s Senior Bowl kicked off on Tuesday in Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl is a critical date on the NFL calendar, with all 32 teams represented.

Who would represent the Commanders? On Monday, some in Washington’s front office made the trip. However, on Wednesday, John Keim of ESPN reported that Peters was set to arrive in Mobile and he’d have company. Martin Mayhew, Washington’s general manager from the last three seasons, was coming with Peters.

Also, according to Keim, Mayhew is expected to remain, although his title has yet to be determined.

This isn’t a surprise. Peters and Mayhew have a good relationship. They worked together in San Francisco from 2017-20, with the pair sharing the role of vice president of player personnel. Mayhew has been with Washington since 2021 but was essentially a GM in title only. Former head coach Ron Rivera had the final say on all personnel matters, and Marty Hurney often had a greater say on personnel matters.

Peters will likely make other moves with Washington’s front office, but those types of moves often come after the NFL draft. But Mayhew is sticking around.

As for Mayhew, he’s currently still listed on Washington’s website as the general manager — alongside Peters.

Why Dan Quinn doesn’t excite Commanders’ fans

There are plenty of reasons why fans aren’t excited about a potential Dan Quinn hire. That doesn’t mean he can’t succeed, though.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is a finalist to become the next head coach of the Washington Commanders. Norv Turner was the last Dallas coordinator to become a Washington head coach in 1994.

On Tuesday, when Ben Johnson withdrew his name from consideration for Washington’s coaching job, Quinn had just finished his second interview with the Commanders. Suddenly, the smoke surrounding Quinn as a serious contender for the job appeared accurate.

Quinn has been the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Before that, he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for six seasons. His work as the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2013-14 led to his only head coaching opportunity in Atlanta.

Quinn turned around the Dallas defense. Players love him. Micah Parsons jokingly said he’d go wherever Quinn went. Unfortunately for Washington, that’s not possible.

But, as we’ve learned over the past week, Quinn is not a popular choice amongst Washington fans.

Why? First, he’s not Johnson. Commanders’ fans have PTSD from the graphic featuring the 2013 coaching staff that features four current head coaches, including one Super Bowl winner (Sean McVay) and another who has appeared in multiple Super Bowls (Kyle Shanahan)

Secondly, Washington fans want an offensive coach. Can you blame them? With the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, fans hope the Commanders select a quarterback and hope to see the new head coach and quarterback work together in the same system for years.

Thirdly,  Commanders’ fans just aren’t all that excited about another former Dallas coordinator. Right or wrong, the last memory of Quinn and the Cowboys was that terrible performance in a blowout loss to the Packers in the NFC wild-card round.

Retread is the most common word fans use in describing Quinn. That’s not entirely fair. Quinn is an excellent coach. Quinn is a leader of men — something GM Adam Peters stressed was important in his selection for the next head coach.

Over the past three seasons, Quinn’s work in Dallas has been outstanding. Using the DVOA metric from FTN, here’s where the Cowboys finished in total defensive DVOA:

  • 2021: 4th
  • 2022: 4th
  • 2023: 5th

The DVOA metric is arguably the best tool available at measuring a defense’s effectiveness.

But let’s look at Quinn’s time as head coach of the Falcons. In five-plus seasons (he was fired during the 2020 season), Quinn amassed a record of 43-42, including a 3-2 mark in the playoffs. The peak of Quinn’s time in Atlanta came in Super Bowl LI when the Falcons led 28-3 and allowed Tom Brady and the Patriots to come back and win.

After that season, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left to become head coach of the 49ers. Quinn’s record without Shanahan is 24-29. His defenses in his final years in Atlanta weren’t great, either.

If Quinn is the hire, he must convince Peters he can build an elite offensive staff capable of developing a young quarterback.

Another reason Washington fans will have a hard time with Quinn is Ron Rivera. Sure, these are two completely different men, but there are similarities. Both are former NFC South head coaches who lost in the Super Bowl and were fired from their previous jobs. Quinn and Rivera are defensive-minded head coaches with a reputation for strong leadership.

It’s important to point out there is a major difference: Quinn will be a coach only. Unlike Rivera, he will not be involved in personnel.

There are shock jocks on the radio saying fans are dumb for not being enthusiastic about Quinn. Give me a break. Fans have a right to feel however they choose.

New owner Josh Harris has a lot on his plate. In addition to trying to build a winning team, he’s trying to win back fans and fill out the home stadium with Washington fans — not Dallas fans. Hiring Quinn wouldn’t exactly galvanize the fan base.

That’s not to say hiring Quinn wouldn’t work. He’s highly respected and, with the right support and an improved roster, can win in Washington. That part is Peters’ job.

But don’t tell Washington fans they have to be excited when they’ve waited far too long for something to be excited about. But Washington fans should also give Quinn a chance — IF he’s the pick.

Is Mike Macdonald the ‘defensive Sean McVay’?

Mike Macdonald has an interesting connection to the Commanders.

On Tuesday, the Washington Commanders’ head coaching search took an unexpected turn when Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson withdrew his name from the Washington and Seattle openings.

So, Washington’s head coaching search, which began with seven names, was essentially down to four: Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Ravens associate head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

To the chagrin of most Washington fans, no names from the offensive side of the ball are listed among the perceived finalists.

It’s widely assumed that Commanders are down to Quinn and Macdonald; however, as we learned from the Johnson pursuit, things aren’t always as they appear. On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Washington liked Johnson, but he wasn’t the slam-dunk pick to the Commanders that many believed.

On Monday, Washington had a second interview with Weaver and Macdonald. On Tuesday, they met with Quinn in the morning and traveled to Detroit in the afternoon to interview Glenn.

Macdonald and Quinn are both believed to be finalists for the Seattle job, too.

Macdonald met with the Seahawks on Tuesday.

Quinn’s meeting with the Commanders went well on Tuesday, but it sounds like Macdonald has been impressing multiple teams.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said on Tuesday that one of the teams looking for a head coach this cycle called Macdonald the best interview they’ve had “by far.”

“He is young, he is bright, sort of the defensive Sean McVay is how he was described to me,” Rapoport said.

Rapoport called Macdonald a “really, really strong candidate” in Seattle.

In his appearance on Monday’s edition of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter said Washington was impressed with Macdonald, Weaver and Glenn, and they all had a legitimate chance to become the next Commanders coach.

He didn’t mention Quinn.

Another nugget in that Schefter appearance: He spoke on the widespread assumptions that Johnson and Quinn to Seattle being locked into Washington and Seattle, respectively. He said he’d bet, at a minimum, one of those would not happen, maybe both. Well, Johnson didn’t happen. Was Schefter’s “maybe” in regard to Quinn to Seattle?

As for Macdonald, he has a connection to the Commanders. His wife, Stephanie, is a Virginia native and former Washington cheerleader.

Stephanie Macdonald spent eight seasons as an NFL cheerleader, including stints with the Titans and Ravens. Her final three seasons were with Washington. She sang the national anthem for the Commanders “a couple of times.”

In an interview with “The Purple Chair Podcast,” Stephanie Macdonald says she was raised a Washington fan, and her father remains a fan.

There’s also the connection between Mike Macdonald and Washington’s senior vice president of football strategy, Eugene Shen. Shen and Macdonald worked together for six seasons with the Ravens.

What does that mean for Washington’s chances with Macdonald? No one knows. However, if Macdonald’s interviews went as well as Rapoport believes, the Commanders could have a hard time keeping him away from Seattle.

Regardless, Washington’s coaching search should wrap up this week.

What will the Commanders new GM Adam Peters do now?

Adam Peters has a huge decision in front of him. How will he respond to losing Washington’s perceived top candidate?

Adam Peters was on the job for just a couple of weeks and didn’t get the guy he wanted.

What now?

Commanders fans were all over X (Twitter) and DC radio Tuesday evening (Jan. 30) with emotions on display for all to see. Many are discouraged that Ben Johnson turned down Washington. Many are despondent, proclaiming there is no other worthy candidate out there. Many are gloomy, already saying there is a new owner, but nothing has changed.

Stop it!

Listen to yourselves!

Fear is doing your talking for you. This is why you are so emotional.

What is Adam Peters going to do?

I’ll tell you what Adam Peters is going to do. He is going to do what he said he was going to do the day he was hired. Adam Peters is going to stick to his commitment and his plan. After all, you don’t naively think he put all of his eggs in one basket, do you?

Peters expressed he was not looking for an offensive or defensive coach in particular. Do you know why? Because Peters has learned through simple observation that both types of coaches have won tremendously in the NFL and both types have lost enormously.

Consequently, what matters most to Peters is not offense or defense. He told us what he was looking for was a man who could bring leadership to the position.

Yes, this is a challenging time for Adam Peters. There is already negative press before he hires his first coach. But is that really necessary? Peters is not going to let his emotions get away from him, harming his ability to remain logical and rational.

Peters didn’t come across to me as a people-pleaser. He is not going to be overly concerned about pleasing Commanders fans. He already knows that is an impossible task.

Thus, Peters will stick to his plan and bring in a coach who will bring to this franchise what it has been lacking, a leader who also knows today’s NFL.

The NFL, like every other industry, is always changing, always bringing surprises. Peters got a big surprise on Tuesday. He lost the biggest trending upward candidate in this 2024 hiring cycle.

Now we will see how Peters responds to disappointments and losses.

Was Ben Johnson’s asking price too much for the Commanders and other teams?

Was Ben Johnson’s asking price too much?

Ben Johnson shocked the NFL world on Tuesday when he removed his name from consideration to be the next head coach of the Washington Commanders or Seattle Seahawks.

Since Washington fired Ron Rivera three weeks ago, betting sites and many in the national media predicted Johnson to the Commanders. Some called it a lock that Johnson was coming to Washington, while others called it a “foregone conclusion.”

Johnson said he wanted to remain in Detroit as the offensive coordinator for another season, citing a desire to win the Super Bowl. Johnson and the Lions lost to the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the NFC Championship on Sunday.

This would be the second consecutive offseason where Johnson chose to remain an offensive coordinator rather than take a head coaching job.

Why?

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, his asking price may have been too high for a first-time head coach.

It was Schefter who, on Monday, threw some cold water on Johnson to Washington with the following statement.

“I’m not convinced yet that Ben Johnson is getting the Commanders’ job,” Schefter said. “I know people have said that he is the presumptive favorite, and he may get the job; he very well may; he is in contention, but that is not a slam dunk at all right now. They are definitely looking at other people, as well. And again, they may come back to Ben Johnson, but I think that they are pretty impressed with (Ravens DC) Mike Macdonald,  (Lions DC) Aaron Glenn and (Ravens AHC/DL coach) Anthony Weaver, as well. I think those guys are going to have a legitimate chance to get that job.”

Schefter also debunked the notion that Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was a lock for the Seattle Seahawks head coaching position.

It’s rare you hear of a first-time head coach having a high asking price. It almost never happens. However, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported in December that some teams were made aware that Johnson was seeking $15 million per season.

Johnson’s agent quickly responded, calling Anderson’s report “irresponsible.” However, as it turns out, Anderson’s tweet lines up with Schefter’s reporting from Tuesday.

After Schefter’s tweet on Tuesday referencing how some owners were spooked by Johnson’s asking price, he followed up with a report, presumably from Johnson’s camp, insisting it wasn’t about money.

When they say it’s not about money, it’s always about money.

Is that why Johnson isn’t Washington’s head coach? Who knows.

 

Ben Johnson informs Commanders, Seahawks he will remain with Lions

Ben Johnson had been considered the favorite for the Commanders.

Ben Johnson will not be the next head coach of the Washington Commanders.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Johnson informed the Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks he will remain in Detroit for at least another year.

Johnson to Washington had been called a lock by some, a foregone conclusion by others. Essentially everyone in the NFL media world believed Johnson would end up in Washington — except Adam Schefter.

Schefter said the following Monday on an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

“I’m not convinced yet that Ben Johnson is getting the Commanders’ job,” Schefter said. “I know people have said that he is the presumptive favorite, and he may get the job; he very well may; he is in contention, but that is not a slam dunk at all right now. They are definitely looking at other people, as well. And again, they may come back to Ben Johnson, but I think that they are pretty impressed with (Ravens DC) Mike Macdonald,  (Lions DC) Aaron Glenn and (Ravens AHC/DL coach) Anthony Weaver, as well. I think those guys are going to have a legitimate chance to get that job.”

The lesson here: Always trust Schefter.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interviewed with the Commanders on Tuesday morning in Ashburn. On Monday, Washington interviewed Ravens associate head coach/DL coach Anthony Weaver and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.