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It’s time for the NFL’s annual coaching carousel, and after parting ways with Ron Rivera, the Washington Commanders are one of several teams in search of a new face on the sidelines.
Plenty of options are out there. Which ones would be good fits in Washington? Let’s take a look.
Johnson has been considered the hottest young coaching prospect throughout much of the 2023 season, an offensive mind who has done wonders for the Detroit Lions as their coordinator. Detroit ranked third in the NFL in yards per game and fifth in points.
Lack of experience may be a detriment for Johnson, who at 37 has never been a head coach and has only been an offensive coordinator for two years. However, he fits the mold of the type of hire that has been the most successful for NFL teams recently, such as the Dolphins with Mike McDaniel and the Colts with Shane Steichen.
Conclusion: Yes, Washington should pursue Johnson.
When the Titans made the perplexing decision to cut ties with Vrabel, he immediately became one of the hottest candidates on the market. In six years in Tennessee, all Vrabel did was overachieve, making the playoffs in three straight seasons between 2019 and 2021 despite never having a true franchise QB.
Vrabel should be a fantastic hire for whoever gets him. However, after moving on from Rivera, it would be understandable if the Commanders want to look in a different direction than a defensive-minded veteran coach who may not be best suited to pair with a QB of the future.
Conclusion: No.
Though Vrabel and most other former NFL HCs may be seen as retreads by Washington, an exception can be made here. Jim Harbaugh is a winner, plain and simple, and after leading his alma mater of Michigan to a national championship, he has nothing left to prove in the college game.
If Harbaugh is ever going to return to the NFL — where he previously took the San Francisco 49ers to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII — then this would be the year. And if Josh Harris and company want to make a big splash with a big name, then he’s the guy. Offer Harbaugh a blank check and see if he’s willing to take it.
When Bieniemy accepted Washington’s offensive coordinator position for the 2023 season, he was believed to be a potential head coach-in-waiting behind Rivera. However, it’s safe to say he failed his audition with flying colors.
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After a promising start, Bieniemy’s offense regressed throughout the season, finishing 25th in points per game and 24th in yards. He struggled to utilize star weapons such as Terry McLaurin, and worse yet, it seemed that there was some disconnect between him and his players, creating friction in the team clubhouse.
Before the season, it was seen as a massive injustice that Bieniemy was not a head coach, with many suggesting his past legal issues and even racial bias for why he was being held back. As it turns out, life isn’t as easy when you aren’t working for Andy Reid and your QB isn’t Patrick Mahomes.