What head coaching candidates must the Washington Commanders turn to after Ben Johnson opted to remain with the Detroit Lions?
It looked for a long time as if Ben Johnson was a shoo-in to become the next Washington Commanders' head coach. He looked ready to make the jump after another outstanding season calling offensive plays. This was an exciting project being offered. Other potential suitors pulled out of the running in quick succession.
This is the NFL, where nothing is guaranteed.
Johnson dropped an absolute bombshell by confirming to the Commanders and Seattle Seahawks that he was planning to remain with the Detroit Lions. He wants to see out the project with Dan Campbell. He wants to win a Super Bowl after coming agonizingly close to an NFC Championship triumph this season. It is a body blow for Washington's new regime, who'd targeted the offensive coordinator heavily throughout the offseason.
The Commanders must now pivot, and quickly. With this in mind, here are three candidates Josh Harris' brain trust needs to make their top priority.
Commanders could hire Mike Vrabel
This is a little out of left-field considering Mike Vrabel hasn't had an interview with the Washington Commanders as yet. Now that Ben Johnson is out of the running, it might be a good time to regroup and seek alternative options.
Vrabel is a bonafide leader of men. He did a good job with the Tennessee Titans before things tailed off slightly over the last two seasons. He'd legitimize the Commanders' project as they look to become an NFL powerhouse once again.
There's a lot of merit in bringing Vrabel's name into the equation. But with pre-draft assessment events already underway, time is of the essence.
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Commanders could hire Bobby Slowik
This comes down to whether the Washington Commanders want an offensive or defensive mind for their next head coach after Ben Johnson decided to stick with his current employers. General manager Adam Peters stated his focus was finding the right leader to take the franchise forward, but there aren't many that don't have a specialty looking at the candidates available.
Another who had a second interview with the Commanders was Bobby Slowik. The Houston Texans offensive coordinator has been lauded for his exceptional first year as an NFL play-caller. His development with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is something else that could intrigue Washington given they have the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
There are questions about whether or not this is too soon for Slowik. He comes from the Mike Shanahan tree and boasts knowledge of the organization previously. He's also in a position to be selective with his stock rising.
Losing Johnson comes as a significant blow to fans. Most deemed this a foregone conclusion from some way out. Slowik is not a bad consolation prize, but this is a huge project to take on for someone so inexperienced.
Dave Canales got the Carolina Panthers job ahead of time. The same applies to Mike McDaniel with the Miami Dolphins. It's a journey into the proverbial unknown, but with high risk comes high reward.
Commanders could hire Mike Macdonald
This is where it gets interesting.
Ben Johnson pulling out of the running completely changes the dynamic for the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. They bided their time to speak with coaches involved in postseason activity. This diminished the pool of options available, but both franchises thought it was a risk worth taking.
All eyes immediately go to Mike Macdonald. The Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator is another highly touted candidate who's been nothing short of phenomenal this season. It wasn't enough to get the AFC North team over the hump, but his stock hasn't been impacted by their home loss against the Kansas City Chiefs to stumble at the final hurdle.
Macdonald's innovative concepts have been a joy to watch this season. He's also got experience working under both Jim and John Harbaugh in recent years, so he'll know how to lead and bring the best out of his players in pursuit of a common goal.
The Commanders interviewed Macdonald for a second time on Monday. The Seahawks are also expected to make a bold bid and have him in the palm of their hands today. Thanks to the Johnson news, he now has all the leverage.
Unlike Slowik, Macdonald seems to be the No. 1 consolation prize for the Commanders. Whether they can secure his services or not is the big question.