Kliff Kingsbury's departure was a surprise to most, despite the reports of friction between the offensive coordinator and general manager Adam Peters. However, the Washington Commanders' decision to part ways with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. didn't raise any eyebrows around the league.
Whitt was living on borrowed time from the moment head coach Dan Quinn took over defensive play-calling duties after a drubbing by the Detroit Lions. It was a necessary move, but the shortage of qualified personnel on the playing side made achieving improvements difficult.
Quinn let both coordinators go. What comes next is pivotal to avoiding speculation about his job status, so hiring the right men to run their respective sides of the football is imperative.
Commanders need an experienced defensive coordinator to replace Joe Whitt Jr.
And there is one obvious move that would completely galvanize how the Commanders could approach things defensively moving forward.
Considering what is at stake for the Commanders in 2025, hiring an experienced coordinator is crucial. If Washington can find someone with connections to Quinn and prior head-coaching experience, the team's chances of making the desired progress will improve.
Even though he will get head-coaching interviews, the Commanders need to be proactive in pursuing Raheem Morris. He was fired by the Atlanta Falcons despite a strong end to the campaign. They opted for a complete reset of the coaching staff and the front office, but that does not detract from the fact that he's been an exceptional defensive mind throughout his glittering career.
Morris and Quinn have worked together before. There is a deep respect between the two, which would allow him to transition seamlessly to a second stint in Washington.
His previous spell with the now-Commanders came while he worked under the great Mike Shanahan. That coaching tree is flourishing around the league, and Morris is the forgotten man compared to the bright offensive minds such as Kyle Shanahan, SeanMcVay, Matt LaFleur, and Mike McDaniel.
Obviously, Morris will first consider returning as a head coach. Whether he will get another chance so quickly is debatable. But if Quinn could get a guarantee that he'll come to Washington if nobody else takes the plunge, it would represent a massive statement of intent.
Other experienced coaches, such as Jim Schwartz and Jeff Ulbrich, should also be on the shortlist. However, the already established relationship with Morris and the esteem in which he is held in Washington make it a no-brainer if both parties are willing.
Time will tell, but it would be deeply disappointing if Morris didn't get strong consideration for the job.