Had the Chicago Bears completed a miraculous victory over the Los Angeles Rams, they would have gone to the Seattle Seahawks to play for the NFC Championship.
A Bears-Seahawks game might have been too painful for fans of the Washington Commanders to watch.
It was widely reported that Ben Johnson was at the top of Adam Peters’ wish list when he set about looking for a Ron Rivera replacement in early 2024. News leaked that he had informed Washington he was not interested after Commanders’ higher-ups were already en route to Detroit for an interview, causing significant public embarrassment.
Johnson decided to remain as the Lions’ offensive coordinator rather than take the top spot in Washington.
Commanders could rue the day they were outbid for Mike Macdonald
What was not as well-known at the time was that Peters had his sights set on another top coordinator after the Johnson plan fell through. Though Washington did meet with the Lions’ defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, on that ill-fated trip to Detroit, they were most eager to land a different defensive-minded coach — Baltimore Ravens’ coordinator Mike Macdonald.
When the coaching carousel of 2024 began, Macdonald’s name was not as hot as Johnson’s. Everyone wanted the offensive wizard. But to those in the know, Macdonald was seen as a real prize.
He had cut his teeth in various positions with the highly respected Ravens’ organization before working for one season in college as Michigan’s defensive coordinator. Then he returned to the NFL for two seasons, during which he oversaw a Baltimore defense that allowed the fewest points and posted the league's best expected points (EXP) in 2023. He was only 37.
As Ben Standig and Dianna Russini reported at the time, Peters thought he had all but closed the deal with Macdonald when John Schneider swooped in from the west coast with more money. He ended up taking the Seahawks job instead.
Peters wasted no time in scooping up Quinn, and in 2024, no Commanders fan would have raised an objection. Washington went to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and advanced to the conference finals. They beat Johnson’s Lions along the way — a win that must have tasted extra sweet.
Up in Seattle, despite leading his team to a 10-7 record, the Seahawks missed the playoffs. Fans were not yet sold on Macdonald.
Suffice to say, they are sold now.
In two years, Macdonald has worked with Schneider to transform an aging roster. The first-time head coach moved decisively to correct early missteps.
The Seahawks had acquired a couple of new linebackers to anchor their complicated defense before the 2024 season. Macdonald quickly concluded neither fit his program and got rid of both by the middle of the year, essentially jumpstarting his defense with new players. One of them, Ernest Jones IV, was just selected as second-team All-Pro.
Macdonald had hired an offensive coordinator with no NFL experience in 2024. It didn’t work, so he released him after the season and brought in the highly pedigreed Klint Kubiak to run his offense.
The rest is history.
In his second year, Macdonald leads a Seahawks team that finished with the best record in the NFC. Under Kubiak, the offense is among the league’s best. Under Macdonald and coordinator Aden Durde, their defense is dominant. They are one home win away from the Super Bowl.
Since Johnson was unable to seize victory, Seattle’s opponent will be the Rams, coached by Sean McVay. As all Commanders’ fans know by now, he also has a history with Washington. No need to bring up that sore subject now.
The 2025 campaign was troubling for Washington, but Quinn and Peters have the experience and skill to course correct.
Quinn’s recent promotion of David Blough to offensive coordinator was seen as an aggressive, bold move. He was not going to risk losing another talented young coach. And one of the strongest supporters of the hire was none other than Johnson.