Ron Rivera almost definitely has one more game remaining as Commanders HC. While Martin Mayhew‘s Washington GM future may also consist of just one more contest, that is a bit less certain. Mayhew’s status aside, new owner Josh Harris is expected to consider updating the team’s power structure. Dan Snyder‘s successor will likely look into adding a president of football operations to oversee both the GM and HC, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero indicate.
Washington has adjusted its power structure on multiple occasions over the past several years. Rivera held personnel power essentially by himself in 2020, with the franchise waiting until 2021 to bring in a GM (Mayhew). Rivera arrived after Bruce Allen‘s 10-year tenure as team president. Allen’s final years did not feature a GM, as the franchise fired Scot McCloughan after two years in the role. The Harris-owned 76ers have Daryl Morey overseeing GM Elton Brand and HC Nick Nurse, though many NFL teams give GMs full control. If the Commanders are to hire both a GM and an executive to oversee that position, top GM candidates will naturally be less interested in the job. Harris is not believed to be interested in giving a head coach full autonomy.
Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:
- Signs the Eagles would demote DC Sean Desai were evident weeks before Nick Sirianni made the call. Sirianni chipped away at Desai’s authority by removing his final say of third-down game planning, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. This occurred between the Eagles’ losses to the 49ers and Cowboys, per McLane, who adds Desai is planning to finish out the season with Philadelphia. The team’s switch to Patricia has not moved the needle, as the Eagles endured an ugly loss to the Cardinals — one that likely cost the team the NFC East title. The Eagles, who were initially expecting to retain Jonathan Gannon for a third season, figure to be in the market for a new DC in the offseason.
- Defensive coordinator on a bad team for a second straight season, Ejiro Evero does not appear to have seen his stock dinged much by the Panthers‘ 2023 performance. After we heard an arrangement in which the Panthers retain Evero as DC under a new coach is likely to be considered, Rapoport and Pelissero note Evero should be expected to receive an HC interview with the team. Of course, David Tepper has been again linked to another pursuit of an offense-oriented coach. Tepper’s uninspiring 2023, which looks to have ended with the owner tossing a drink at a fan in Jacksonville, could certainly have an impact on the caliber of candidates interested in the Carolina job. High-end option Ben Johnson already turned down the team in 2023, but the Lions’ OC is again in the Panthers’ sights.
- The Chargers do not look to be interested in either of their coordinators for the HC job. Despite previously being an HC interviewee, Bolts OC Kellen Moore is unlikely to be considered for the organization’s top coaching job, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper (subscription required). Justin Herbert failed to take notable steps forward under the ex-Cowboys play-caller, who admittedly dealt with injury trouble — along with center Corey Linsley‘s early-season placement on the reserve/NFI list — in his first season in Los Angeles. It will be interesting to see if Moore — hired within a day after his Cowboys exit — will land another OC gig for 2024.
- The Jets are giving their HC and GM a mulligan for 2023, but Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline offers that staff changes should still be likely to commence. O-line coach Keith Carter‘s job appears in jeopardy, per Pauline, who adds the ex-Titans O-line coach’s hire raised eyebrows at the Senior Bowl last year. Pro Football Focus ranks the Jets’ O-line 32nd, though it has seen injuries — including Alijah Vera-Tucker‘s season-ending malady in October — make a significant impact. Robert Saleh will be on the hot seat in 2024, and while Nathaniel Hackett is expected to stay, one of his lieutenants may not survive this disappointing season.
Chargers gonna Chargers. Moore isn’t the issue.
Mike Williams played 3 games
Palmer played 9 this year
The receiving core overall missed a lot of time.
Lost the center and back up center
And Herbert was still on pace for 4000+ yards and 30 TDs.
All the new head coach needs to do is just make the defense decent. That’s about it.
Otherwise find a #2 behind Allen, find a more consistent TE, move on from Ekeler and pray for some health.
I agree. Though there were a few duds this year, the team has mostly been a threat offensively to its opponents. Herbert is one of those guys who is going to get his numbers, but it’s hard for a unit to stay consistent when the rest of the team is losing heart because of dysfunction at the top. The Chargers never felt like they were in chaos, but everyone around the league and watching it knew that they were making dumb and high profile mistakes under Staley that probably affected the team’s mentality. That’s just how seemed from afar to me-expecting to have a chance, and then losing (especially due to very obvious mistakes) over and over seems like it would affect a team’s mindset. I feel like this is especially true because the head coach was supposed to be a defensive wunderkind, and the defense never delivered, despite high profile talent.
They never built a good playoff on their talented roster in those years, which I’m sure affected players’ mindsets. It’s not like they were rebuilding; they expected to compete, and instead they were mediocre. Moore, in only a year, wasn’t the cause of that issue, and overall the offense performed, especially more than the defense.
Tepper throwing a drink at fans is more dramatic than throwing cold water on potential coaching candidates, I suppose.
It’s never a good sign when the owner has a better throwing arm than the QB he drafted.
Kellen Moore is overrated. Dallas hasn’t missed a beat w/o him this year. He needs more time as an OC before being considered HC material.
The Eagles need a new OC and DC. Sirianni is probably safe for this year even though he seems to have lost the locker room. He’ll be on a short leash next year if this doesn’t get turned around.