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Mike MacDonald

Seahawks Schedule Second HC Interview With Ben Johnson; Team To Meet With Mike Macdonald

January 29th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders and Seahawks saw a number of the top remaining candidates for their head coaching vacancies become available via their team’s respective losses on Sunday. Washington’s intentions remain clear, but Seattle will also speak with the names most frequently connected to its own opening.

The Seahawks are set to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson tonight along with Ravens DC Mike Macdonald tomorrow, SI’s Albert Breer reports. In the former’s case, this summit will be a second interview which comes amidst expectations he is the top choice of the Commanders. The latter, meanwhile, has not yet taken part in a Seahawks meeting.

In spite of that, it was reported during the weekend that the Seahawks were interested in speaking with Macdonald. The Ravens and Lions were eliminated on Sunday, leaving their staffers free to interview with and accept offers from teams prepared to offer a head coaching position at any time. Both Johnson and Macdonald have been amongst the most sought-after candidates in this year’s cycle, and their futures could become clear in the coming days.

The Panthers were prepared to (once again) make a push to land Johnson, one of the top young offensive minds in the league. He was tapped as Carolina’s top choice, but the same is true of Washington. With the Panthers having moved on to Dave Canales, the Commanders are in pole position to land the 37-year-old.

Johnson would be a welcomed addition to any staff, but the Seahawks will have other options if he does take the Commanders gig. Macdonald, like Johnson, has only been an NFL coordinator over the past two years, but his work with Baltimore’s defense has quickly upped his head coaching stock. Prior to tomorrow’s sit-down with the Seahawks, he will meet today with the Commanders.

Of course, another name looming over the Seattle vacancy is Dan Quinn. The current Cowboys defensive coordinator has elected to turn down HC interest in the past, but a chance to succeed Pete Carroll in Seattle could await him. Quinn is among the staffers to have already conducted a second interview with the team, and Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes Quinn could presently be considered a “slight favorite” for the job. However, Seattle is high on Macdonald, he adds.

Indeed, NBC Sports’ Peter King confirms Quinn’s history with Seattle (having previously served as the team’s DC) is unlikely to represent a deciding factor in the team’s ultimate decision. Plenty is still to be determined as the Seahawks enter the next phase of their coaching search. Both they and the Commanders will be worth watching closely as the HC cycle approaches its end.

Seahawks Showing HC Interest In Ravens’ Mike Macdonald

January 27th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks are one of two teams still with a head coaching vacancy. They have generated a healthy list of candidates given the number of staffers they have already met with, but at least one other coach is on the team’s radar.

Seattle is interested in Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Brady Henderson report. That is noteworthy since the Seahawks have not yet spoken to Macdonald as part of their ongoing search (although he was floated as a potential candidate earlier this month). In spite of that, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times confirms the Seahawks plan to interview him as soon as possible.

Candidates on teams playing in tomorrow’s conference championship games were not allowed to take part in head coaching interviews this week per the modified league hiring rules. However, staffers who have spoken once with interested teams are allowed to conduct a second interview during the bye between the conference title games and the Super Bowl. Since Macdonald did not speak with the Seahawks at any point during the cycle, though, he would not be able to be interviewed or hired until after the Ravens’ season comes to an end.

Like Washington, Seattle is poised to wait out the upcoming games before progressing further in its HC search. The Seahawks established a five-man list of staffers to conduct a second interview with, including Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. The former Seahawks DC was immediately named as a serious candidate to replace Pete Carroll, and Dallas’ decision to retain Mike McCarthy could leave a return to the Emerald City as Quinn’s best path to another head coaching opportunity.

The 53-year-old had a run of five-plus years with the Falcons, making him an experienced option receiving interest from Seattle. The same is true of Mike Vrabel, whose tenure with the Titans came to an end this offseason. Vrabel has been labeled a Seahawks candidate, but the parties have not met at this point. Macdonald contrasts with those options given his thinner resume, but he has seen his rising stock result in notable interest around the league.

The latter is in just his second season as an NFL coordinator, but the Ravens’ performance on defense in 2023 has made Macdonald one of the league’s rising defensive minds. The 36-year-old’s unit has been a central factor in Baltimore’s return to the AFC title game for the first time in 11 years, and he has been connected to six HC vacancies in this year’s cycle. Macdonald is also on the radar of the Commanders, though their search continues to point more firmly toward Lions OC Ben Johnson than anyone else.

If the Seahawks follow through on their interest in Macdonald, they may need to wait until after the Super Bowl to officially hire him, depending on how tomorrow’s action plays out. Seattle could thus run the risk of losing out on another top candidate in the meantime, though the team does only have one remaining competitor on the head coaching front. In any case, Macdonald’s future will be worth watching closely with respect to both vacancies.

Commanders, Seahawks Not Expected To Make HC Hires This Week

January 25th, 2024 at 5:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Falcons bringing back Raheem Morris and the Panthers luring Dave Canales from the Buccaneers, the NFC South now has four head coaches again. That leaves just two openings remaining; neither is likely to be filled this week.

The Commanders and Seahawks are expected to wait a bit longer, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter noting both teams are planning to delay their searches until next week. NFL rules will dictate these delays. Staffers on a team preparing for a conference championship game cannot meet with teams about a coaching job.

Despite the Chiefs and 49ers’ continued success, these delays pertain to the Lions and Ravens’ coordinators. Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver are in the mix for jobs. Other coaches remain in the running for the Seattle and Washington gigs, but the non-Detroit or Baltimore-affiliated candidates are free to conduct in-person interviews now.

The NFL rule change last year prevented any coach on an NFL staff from conducting an in-person interview with a team until after the divisional round. As a result, Glenn, Johnson, Macdonald and Weaver have only interviewed virtually. Last year’s hiring period involved lengthy waits as well, with the Cardinals and Colts not making their hires until after Super Bowl LVII. Eagles staffers Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen signed on to fill those positions, needing to wait until after the Super Bowl due to league rules. If the Ravens or Lions advance that far this season, their assistants would need to wait until after Super Bowl LVIII to be hired.

Washington has been connected to Johnson for a bit now. Both the Panthers and Commanders were believed to have the second-year Lions OC positioned as the favorite in their respective searches. Johnson spurned Carolina last year and may not have given indications he was interested this year, either. Though, Johnson did interview with David Tepper‘s club. Johnson interviewed with both the Commanders and Seahawks virtually, joining Glenn and Macdonald.

Johnson and Glenn are expected to meet again with the Commanders. Macdonald interviewed virtually with Washington, but only Weaver has a second Commanders interview arranged among Baltimore staffers. The Ravens could see both their coordinators return, which represented an unlikely scenario given the team’s success this season. Macdonald has not interviewed with the Seahawks, and OC Todd Monken has not been connected to either of the remaining openings. The Seahawks are believed to be interested in Mike Vrabel, though they have not interviewed him. No Vrabel-Commanders connections have emerged.

Bill Belichick is not believed to be on either NFC team’s radar, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reinforces. Belichick, 71, had only met with the Falcons about their vacancy. Although Arthur Blank initially targeted the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC, the Falcons changed course and hired Morris. The latter met twice with the Commanders and was set for a second Seahawks interview Friday. Unless another team fires its head coach, Belichick is likely to find himself shut out — from HC positions, at least — in this cycle. The 29-year HC veteran is 14 wins shy of Don Shula‘s career record. He has been on an NFL sideline in every season since 1975.

Falcons Request Second HC Interviews With Ravens’ Mike Macdonald, Anthony Weaver

January 23rd, 2024 at 7:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 7:46pm: As expected, the Falcons also invited back Raheem Morris for a second interview. The team announced this evening that they’ve completed their second talk with the Rams defensive coordinator.

MONDAY, 3:25pm: More finalists for the Falcons’ head coaching position have emerged. Atlanta has requested a second interview with Ravens staffers Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

With the Ravens having advanced to the AFC title game, members of their coaching staff cannot take part in interviews this week. When available, however, they will be able to meet in person with the Falcons as their search for an Arthur Smith replacement continues. The leading candidate in that department continues to be Bill Belichick, but nothing is certain as of yet.

Atlanta is poised to conduct a thorough search even though the team has already spoken with Belichick twice. The six-time Super Bowl winner is joined by Jim Harbaugh in receiving an in-person look so far with Atlanta. As coaching free agents, those two are not subject to the rules of staffers currently employed in the NFL. Atlanta must still satisfy the Rooney Rule, however, something which will be the case once the team speaks for a second time with Weaver and another external minority candidate.

While Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is the favorite to win a second MVP award, Baltimore’s defense has played a massive role in the team’s success this season. The unit led the league in sacks, takeaways (tied) and points allowed, something which has not been done before in NFL history. That has, to no surprise, led to signficant HC interest for Macdonald in particular.

The 36-year-old returned to the Ravens last year after a single season as Michigan’s DC. His three total years as a play-caller limit his experience compared to a number of other candidates, but the Falcons are joined by the Panthers, Chargers, Seahawks, Titans and Commanders in being at least connected to him. A strong showing in the postseason – the Ravens’ defense allowed three points in their win against the Texans – has no doubt upped Macdonald’s value.

The same is true for Weaver, who interviewed with the Commanders for their head coaching vacancy. His NFL coaching career dates back to 2012, and he has extensive experience as a D-line coach. The 43-year-old has also worked as a coordinator once (with the Texans in 2020), and for the past two seasons he has held the title of associate head coach with the Ravens.

Both Macdonald and Weaver figure to be in demand if they ca replicate their performances this week against the Chiefs. After that contest, they will be free to speak with the Falcons or any other teams taking a serious look at them for a head coaching gig.

Chargers Interview Mike Macdonald For HC Position

January 14th, 2024 at 10:54am CST by Rory Parks

Add the Chargers to the ever-growing list of teams interested in Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Los Angeles announced that it has conducted a head coaching interview with the popular DC.

As shown in our head coaching tracker, Macdonald has either been interviewed by, or is expected to be interviewed by, six of the eight teams that have had HC vacancies since the regular season ended. The only teams that have not expressed interest in Macdonald are the Raiders — who have yet to conduct any HC interviews, as they want to finalize their GM position first — and the Patriots, who simply promoted Jerod Mayo to their head coaching position following Bill Belichick‘s departure, pursuant to succession language in Mayo’s contract.

The intrigue surrounding Macdonald is easy enough to understand. The 36-year-old has served as Baltimore’s DC in each of the past two years, and the Ravens’ defense has thrived under his watch. The club finished sixth in total defense in 2023 after finishing 10th in that category in 2022; first in scoring defense in 2023 (third in 2022); first in takeaways in 2023 (10th in 2022); and first in defensive DVOA in 2023 (eighth in 2022). Baltimore also led the league in sacks this season despite not having a premier edge rusher on the roster.

Furthermore, young players like Kyle Hamilton and Justin Madubuike have become stars in Macdonald’s system, while veteran also-rans like Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy, and Arthur Maulet have rejuvenated their careers. And while Macdonald is not the young offensive mind that clubs have sought out in recent seasons, the success of DeMeco Ryans in Houston this year has proven that a young, defensive-minded coach works just as well if that person is a strong leader.

Of course, not all job opportunities are created equal, and candidates like Macdonald who may have multiple options could shy away from a team like the Panthers, who have ownership and quarterback concerns. On the other hand, the Chargers’ opening is generally considered one of the most appealing, thanks largely to the presence of QB Justin Herbert. Indeed, current University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, long linked to the Los Angeles gig, has reportedly told his associates that he might leave Ann Arbor for the Chargers.

One factor working against Macdonald’s candidacy for the Chargers’ post is the fact that he would be a first-time HC. The last three head coaches hired by the San Diego/Los Angeles franchise have been first-timers, the latest of whom (Brandon Staley) also had a defensive background. While it is not surprising that owner Dean Spanos wanted to sit down with Macdonald, it would also not be surprising to see Spanos opt for a more experienced, offensive-minded candidate.

Interestingly, Los Angeles has also interviewed Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and has requsted a GM interview with Baltimore’s director of player personnel, Joe Hortiz.

Cowboys’ Dan Quinn, Ravens’ Mike Macdonald Highlight Names To Watch In Seattle

January 13th, 2024 at 2:31pm CST by Ely Allen

Since the Seahawks made the decision to move on from longtime head coach Pete Carroll, they have really been the only team that we haven’t heard from in terms of scheduling interviews for candidates to replace him. Current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was mentioned as an expected candidate to replace his former boss, and today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided us with a new name to look out for in Seattle.

Quinn has been considered a head coaching candidate pretty much ever since he was fired from his head coaching gig with the Falcons in 2020. Since Quinn landed in Dallas, the Cowboys have fielded a perennial top-10 scoring defense and have improved their yards allowed each year. This year the team finished in the top five of both categories.

Last year, Quinn interviewed with the Cardinals, Broncos, Texans, and Colts to fill their head coaching openings, and even returned for second interviews in Arizona and Indianapolis before ultimately making the decision to remain in Dallas as a coordinator. The year prior saw Quinn interview with the Bears, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings, and Giants. He conducted a second interview in Chicago and was considered a finalist for the Denver job, but he ended up once again choosing to remain with the Cowboys, even declining an interview opportunity with the Jaguars.

Quinn’s connection to Seattle, comes from two different stints with the team. After defensive line coaching jobs with the 49ers, Dolphins, and Jets, Quinn accepted that same position coaching gig with the added title of assistant head coach with the Seahawks. He held the position for two years before taking on a defensive coordinator job for the University of Florida. After two more years, Quinn made the move back to the NFL and back to Seattle as an NFL defensive coordinator.

The Seahawks reached back-to-back Super Bowls (and were one offensive play away from winning back-to-back Super Bowls) behind a defense led by Quinn that finished tops in the league in both points allowed and yards allowed. In both years, Quinn’s defense led both categories by a relatively wide margin. His success coaching the vaunted Legion of Doom led to his first head coaching opportunity in Atlanta. Despite an overall winning record of 43-42 that included a Super Bowl appearance for the Falcons, two consecutive 7-9 seasons and an 0-5 start to the 2020 season led to Quinn’s termination.

The other name mentioned by Rapoport has a bit of a different story. Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has far less coaching experience in the NFL. Macdonald started in Baltimore as a coaching intern in 2014, moving up to defensive assistant before coaching defensive backs in 2017 and linebackers from 2018-20. John Harbaugh‘s little brother Jim stole Macdonald away for a season to serve as defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan before the elder Harbaugh called Macdonald back to the NFL for the same role in Baltimore.

In two years under Macdonald, the Ravens have finished third and first in points allowed and improved from 11th in yards allowed to sixth this year. Despite the presence of a star outside pass rusher, Macdonald’s Ravens have consistently been one of the league’s more successful teams at pressuring the quarterback thanks to unique blitzing schemes and disguises. This year, Baltimore added a league-leading 31 turnovers to the resume, as well.

Despite Quinn’s apparent seniority over Macdonald, both coordinators have received extensive interest so far as head coaching candidates. Quinn currently holds interview requests from the Panthers, Chargers, Titans, and Commanders, while Macdonald has interviewed with the Panthers and Falcons and holds requests from the Titans and Commanders, as well. Both coordinators are still in the playoffs and can only conduct virtual interviews at this time, but once the playoffs have finished, expect both coaches to act on the reported interest.

Falcons Request HC Interview With Mike Macdonald

January 11th, 2024 at 6:58pm CST by Ben Levine

We can add another team to the list of suitors for Mike Macdonald. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons have requested permission to interview the Ravens defensive coordinator for their head coaching vacancy.

[RELATED: 2024 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

After not generating any head coaching interest last offseason, Macdonald has turned into one of the most popular names this time around. As our Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the Falcons join the Titans, Commanders, Panthers, and Chargers as the teams that are currently pursuing Macdonald.

The second-year Ravens DC helped guide one the NFL’s top defenses this season, with Baltimore finishing the season as the top-scoring defense. Macdonald also got praise for his handling on the edge. Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy both caught on late with the Ravens, but the veteran duo still managed to finish the year with 18.5 sacks.

Macdonald joins a growing list of candidates for the open gig in Atlanta:

Despite the lack of a head coach, the Falcons are holding on to one of their coordinators. According to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, the Falcons blocked defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen from interviewing for the Jaguars defensive coordinator gig. After spending the 2022 campaign as the Saints DC, Nielsen took on the same role in Atlanta for the 2023 campaign. The Falcons defense ended up having a bounce-back season, finishing 11th in the NFL in yards allowed.

Titans Request HC Interviews With Antonio Pierce, Four Others

January 10th, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ousting a popular defensive-minded coach, the Titans are starting off their search to replace Mike Vrabel by sending to interview requests to defense-oriented staffers.

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Raiders interim HC Antonio Pierce have received requests to meet with Titans brass about the newly vacated job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport report. This represents more of the same for Glenn, a candidate over the past two years, but new territory for Pierce, who is in only his second season as an NFL coach. Quinn will interview for the job virtually Wednesday, per SI.com’s Albert Breer.

Additionally, Pelissero notes Giants OC Mike Kafka received a Titans interview summons. Ravens DC Mike Macdonald is also on the Titans’ request list, per Schefter. Both young coaches have surged onto the radar in recent years, with Macdonald riding more momentum at this point.

Pierce is on the radar to keep his job in Las Vegas, but the Raiders are understandably targeting higher-profile names. Jim Harbaugh is in the mix to reunite with the first team to give him a shot as an NFL coach, though Raiders HC interview requests have not emerged yet. The franchise is working on its GM role first. Pierce represents an unorthodox candidate, having been moved from linebackers coach to interim HC. The former Super Bowl-winning linebacker had resigned from his Arizona State DC post in 2022, amid an investigation into recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but went 5-4 as Raiders interim HC.

Quinn has been a popular figure on the past two coaching carousels, but the Cowboys’ DC jumped off both rides. He had aimed to land the Broncos’ HC job in 2022, but the franchise went through on what became one of this era’s biggest mistakes by hiring Nathaniel Hackett. Producing two more high-end Cowboys defenses since, Quinn now could have a chance to return to the team that raised his profile. The Seahawks have moved on from Pete Carroll, and Quinn — Seattle’s DC from 2013-14 — is expected to be a lead candidate.

Glenn and Quinn overlap in interview requests during this cycle. In addition to the Titans, both have received requests from the Chargers and Commanders. Glenn has managed to attract steady interest despite his Detroit defenses not rivaling Quinn’s Dallas groups in terms of rankings. The Lions have not produced a top-half ranking in scoring or total yardage in Glenn’s three seasons in charge, but the former cornerback is well-regarded — after a run as the Saints’ DBs coach — and interviewed for the Cardinals and Colts’ jobs last year.

Tennessee’s Kafka request is somewhat surprising. Although Kafka was in the mix for the Arizona, Houston and Indianapolis gigs in 2023, the Giants’ offense regressed this season. That said, the team produced a surprising playoff berth behind quality seasons from Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in 2022. Jones’ injury wounded the Giants this season, as they tumbled from 15th to 30th in points from 2022-23. Still, the Titans will take a look at the former Chiefs assistant soon. No in-person coaching interviews can take place until after the divisional round. Kafka has called plays during both his Giants OC seasons.

Just 36, Macdonald did not receive any interview requests last year. The Ravens’ defensive performance in 2023 has changed the equation, elevating the play-caller’s stock. Baltimore led the NFL in scoring defense this season; Macdonald’s unit has ranked in the top 10 in both points and yards in each of his two seasons in charge. The longtime Ravens position coach-turned-Michigan assistant is on others’ interview lists as well, with the prospect of Baltimore losing both he and first-year OC Todd Monken in play.

Panthers Request HC Interviews With Mike Macdonald, Raheem Morris, Dan Quinn, Frank Smith

January 8th, 2024 at 7:43pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve got four more candidates to add to the Panthers head coaching search. The Panthers have announced that they’ve requested interviews with nine head coaching candidates, with four new names joining our list:

  • Mike Macdonald, Ravens defensive coordinator
  • Raheem Morris, Rams defensive coordinator
  • Dan Quinn, Cowboys defensive coordinator
  • Frank Smith, Dolphins offensive coordinator

These four coaches join a growing list of candidates, a grouping that also includes Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales, and Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.

Macdonald joins his offensive counterpart in Baltimore in interviewing for the open Carolina gig. The second-year Ravens DC helped guide the NFL’s top-scoring defense in 2023. Macdonald also managed to squeeze unexpected production from his pass rushers; despite Kyle Van Noy signing in September and Jadeveon Clowney catching on late in the summer, the duo combined for 18.5 sacks this past season. The Commanders have already requested an interview with Macdonald for their head coaching vacancy.

Morris also got an interview from the Commanders, the organization in which he served as the secondary coach between 2012 and 2014. Morris has spent the past three seasons as the Rams defensive coordinator, and he’s been a popular name on the interview circuit in recent years. He interviewed twice for the Vikings job in 2022, and he was linked to the Broncos and Colts gigs in 2023. Morris is seeking his second head coaching job after leading the way in Tampa Bay between 2009 and 2011.

After withdrawing from head coaching interest in each of the past two offseasons, we heard recently that Quinn is now believed to be “more receptive to the right offer.”After a hot start to his Falcons head coaching tenure, Quinn was fired in 2020 following two-straight 7-9 campaigns and an 0-5 start to the 2020 season. He’s spent the past three seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator, overseeing a unit that’s finished top-five in points allowed and top-10 in yards allowed each season.

This is the first job that Smith has been connected to, although we previously heard that the Dolphins offensive coordinator was expected to generate some head coaching interest. Smith and head coach Mike McDaniel finally saw their offensive vision come to fruition in 2023, with the unit finishing second in points scored and first in yards. Both the passing offense and rushing offense have taken off this season, making Smith an intriguing candidate regardless of personnel.

Commanders Request Interview With Mike Macdonald; Team To Consider Eric Bieniemy For HC Position

January 8th, 2024 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

More updates continue to come in with respect to the Commanders’ coaching search. With Ron Rivera out of the picture, a number of outside candidates have been connected to the vacancy. The team’s top incumbent option could also receive consideration, however.

Washington has already submitted interview requests with four staffers preparing for their respective teams’ postseasons to begin: Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn (Lions), Raheem Morris (Rams) and Anthony Weaver (Ravens). The latter has company in Baltimore as it pertains to head coach interest. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has received an interview request, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Additionally, Josh Harris said Monday (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will receive consideration for the HC post. The new Commanders owner said the team plans to finalize its front office strategy first before moving on to its HC list. Considering no in-person HC interviews can be conducted until after the divisional round this year, a GM-before-HC path makes sense. Harris noted Bieniemy will be part of the search.

Bieniemy went through more than a dozen interviews for HC positions during his time as Chiefs OC. Despite Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes-fueled surge to the top of the NFL, Andy Reid‘s right-hand man on offense could not land a job. This became a divisive issue. As reports of Bieniemy struggling in interviews surfaced, the obvious storyline of race became the lead topic surrounding the five-year Kansas City coordinator’s quest to become a head coach. Ultimately, Bieniemy decided to leave the Chiefs to call plays elsewhere. That effort produced mixed results, and after new ownership took over in Washington, it would be surprising if Bieniemy landed the Commanders’ HC job.

Washington’s offensive rankings dropped from last season, sinking to 25th in points and 24th in yardage. DVOA slotted the Commanders’ offense 26th. The Commanders committed to Sam Howell at quarterback, shying away from starter-level QBs after pursuing every available QB1 in 2022. Howell became the first Washington QB since Kirk Cousins to go wire-to-wire as a starter, but Jacoby Brissett twice replaced him in games late in the season. The team lost its final eight games, making it more likely Harris starts fresh with his own hires.

Macdonald is among the younger candidates in this year’s head coaching cycle. The second-year Ravens DC has been expected to receive interest during this year’s HC hiring period. Baltimore finished the regular season with the NFL’s top scoring defense, doing so despite relying on Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy on the edge. Clowney arrived late in the summer, while Van Noy did not sign until September. The two combined for 18.5 sacks, with D-tackle Justin Madubuike dominating (13 sacks) in his contract year.

Harris also hired analytics staffer Eugene Shen as his VP of football strategy during the season. Shen is an ex-Ravens staffer whose Baltimore tenure overlapped with Macdonald’s first stint with the team. It would, then, not be shocking to see Ravens GM and HC candidates emerge.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

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