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Redskins: 30 candidates who could potentially replace Jay Gruden as head coach

By Jacob Camenker

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a timeout in the fourth quarter during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a timeout in the fourth quarter during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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RENTON, WA- CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Kris Richard of the Seattle Seahawks poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Renton, Washington. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
RENTON, WA- CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Kris Richard of the Seattle Seahawks poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Renton, Washington. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /

. Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach. Dallas Cowboys. Kris Richard. 3. player. 123

Previously: 3

Kris Richard is one of the more intriguing defensive-minded coaches on the market. And his unique skill set could get him a chance to land a head coaching job at some point in the future.

Richard got his start in the NFL under Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks. He played collegiately for Carroll at USC and spent four years in the NFL before eventually joining Carroll’s USC staff as a graduate assistant. Upon Carroll’s promotion to the NFL, Richard became a defensive backs coach and remained in that role for five years before he was tapped as the replacement to Dan Quinn following the coach’s departure to join the Atlanta Falcons.

In three years as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator, Richard twice led a top-five defense before regressing to unit that ranked just outside the top 10 in 2017. The Seahawks elected to part with Richard after that in a surprising move that would eventually lead to the end of the “Legion of Boom” days in Seattle.

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Richard was scooped up by the Cowboys as a defensive backs coach and has developed a lot of the players in their secondary including Xavier Woods, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jourdan Lewis into quality starters while also helping Byron Jones to greatly improve. Richard’s impact had a big effect on the Cowboys’ defense and that’s why he became the unit’s passing game coordinator in 2018.

Richard’s presence could help the Redskins to tap into some of the potential they have in their secondary. And given that the team needs some reinforcements at corner, perhaps Richard could convince the free-agent-to-be Jones to join him while drafting and developing another guy on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Redskins haven’t had a defensive-centric head coach since Marty Schottenheimer was in charge of the team in 2001. Perhaps Richard could be the change they need to find success on that side of the ball. And nabbing a 41-year-old talent from their divisional rival Cowboys surely wouldn’t hurt as the team looks to take a new approach in the post-Jay Gruden era.

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