Which Washington Commanders find themselves firmly on the hot seat as Josh Harris' exciting new ownership era gets underway?
It's been two days of relief and celebration across the Washington Commanders. This is likely to continue throughout the weekend and beyond, but the hard work starts now for Josh Harris and his wealthy team of investors.
The message was clear throughout their introductory press conference on Friday. Harris and his group want to restore the Commanders as a primary community presence, upgrade almost everything associated with the fan experience, and put out a winning football product after so much misery under the previous regime.
These are lofty objectives that will take time to accomplish. But it does nothing to lessen the pressure on some individuals within the building heading into a crossroads campaign.
With that in mind, here are five Commanders who find themselves on the hot seat now the team's sale has been finalized.
Marty Hurney - Commanders Executive VP Football/Player Personnel
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that almost everyone will be scrutinized heavily by Josh Harris and his team. Everyone will get a fair shake and a chance to prove themselves, with the timeframe before Week 1 making any landmark alterations to infrastructure almost impossible all things considered.
One man who could be in the firing line is Marty Hurney, The experienced front office figure remains a close associate of Ron Rivera's from their time together on the Carolina Panthers and an important member of the team's pre-draft assessments, so his fate will likely mirror the head coach whichever way things pan out.
Jason Wright - Commanders president
Jason Wright has arguably been the closest to Josh Harris' group throughout the process. He's been the go-between, especially during the closing stages of the transaction, which is down to NFL rules restricting the group from having a firm hand on day-to-day operations across the franchise until everything became official.
Harris and his group have been complimentary about Wright and the discussions were positive between both sides. There is a level of excitement about their flourishing working relationship, but this could all change quickly depending on how things unfold in the coming months.
Washington Commanders fans have mixed reviews about Wright's time with the team so far depending on who you ask. Dan Snyder's meddling is worthy of a pass, but there's been a few major errors in calculation that might put him in a precarious position long-term.
Again, there doesn't appear any sense of urgency for Harris' group to rock the boat just yet. They are planning to focus their immediate attention on improving the fan experience and restoring community pride, giving Wright a reprieve and an opportunity to spearhead this revolution from a position of power.
If Harris doesn't like what he sees after thorough assessments, then a change will take place once the 2023 campaign concludes.
Martin Mayhew - Commanders GM
Another who might be nervously looking over his shoulder is Martin Mayhew. The Washington Commanders general manager has settled into the role well, even though the final say on personnel matters goes to head coach Ron Rivera as part of his contract stipulations.
Mayhew is a respected figure around the NFL and is experienced enough to provide assistance during such an important change. What comes after that is less clear and will likely be dependent on how Washington's offseason recruitment decisions transition onto the field during the regular season.
Much like the situation with Jason Wright, fans would give mixed reviews about Mayhew's time with the Commanders so far. But we should find out more now the shackles of ownership flux have come off.
As is normally the case, there have been hits and misses for Mayhew throughout his two-year stint in Washington. However, the margin for error is slimmer than ever before thanks to the presence of Josh Harris and his ambitious group.
What's important for Mayhew is focusing on the task at hand rather than his long-term job prospects. Most of the personnel moves have been made heading into training camp, although the chance for another bold splash or two cannot be dismissed with the newfound ability to move money around.
Would that improve Mayhew's fate? Time will tell.
Ron Rivera - Commanders HC
Once the ink dried on the Washington Commanders' sale agreement, Ron Rivera's head coaching seat became the hottest in football. And if there was one thing to take from Josh Harris group's introductory press conference on Friday, it's their fierce desire to mold a winner on the field.
Rivera's not enjoyed the greatest success in terms of record over his first three years. He's been working with one hand tied behind his back thanks to the previous regime, but changing the culture was no easy task considering the mess inherited by the former linebacker.
In fairness to Rivera, he's altered the previous way of thinking and reinstalled his draft, develop, and reward ethos tremendously. However, with no stable quarterback and finishing last in the NFC East, the pressure is well and truly on.
Harris praised Rivera and seems confident enough in giving him a chance to thrive next season. Everything seems to be in place, but it won't be easy considering Washington's strength of schedule and the competitive division in which they reside.
Rivera's taken everything in his stride and has previous experience under new ownership during his time with the Carolina Panthers. Whether that'll be enough to avoid a similar fate remains to be seen, but this will be his final campaign with the Commanders if things continue in a similar manner.
Sam Howell - Commanders QB
The Washington Commanders' fate in 2023 could rest squarely on the shoulders of second-year quarterback Sam Howell. That's a lot to ask of someone with one career start under his belt in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys, but it's the situation he now finds himself after one of the most dramatic offseasons in franchise history.
Howell has the confidence of head coach Ron Rivera and seems to be winning over teammates heading into training camp. He isn't the most flamboyant quarterback to ever grace the league, but there are more ways to inspire others than being vocal.
This ownership change and its significance shouldn't be lost on Howell. The former fifth-round selection has an immense opportunity awaiting him, but the consequences are going to be severe for many if the signal-caller doesn't reach some lofty expectations.
If Howell cannot produce the goods, then Rivera could be out of a job and the Commanders will make landing a long-term quarterback their top priority next spring. Something that would leave the North Carolina product relegated to a backup role or perhaps off the Commanders roster entirely depending on how things play out.
Howell will benefit from Eric Bieniemy's presence and there is an abundance of quality at the skill positions to utilize. But the added sense of urgency coming from Josh Harris' ownership group means this could go either way.