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Washington Commanders News & Rumors

Ian Cunningham, Adam Peters Finalists For Commanders’ President Of Football Operations Position

January 11th, 2024 at 11:02am CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders are one of eight NFL teams in need of a new head coach, but they are also in the process of re-working their front office structure. That will include the addition of a president of football operations, and a hire in that department could be coming very soon.

Having already completed the first round of interviews for the position, Washington is down to a pair of finalists. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes Ian Cunningham and Adam Peters are still in the running, and multiple reports have confirmed those two are now alone in the race.

Both execs have been among the hottest names on the GM/front office market for this year’s hiring cycle after receiving interest last year as well. Cunningham – currently serving as assistant general manager for the Bears – was immediately on the Commanders’ radar, and he has also received an interview request from the Chargers. Competition is also in place for Peters.

The latter has received a slip from the Raiders and Chargers, confirming his status as one of the most sought-after executives in this year’s hiring cycle. With multiple teams in pursuit of Peters and Cunningham, it comes as little surprise that the Commanders are choosing to move quickly with respect to choosing between the two. Owner Josh Harris has assembled a selection committee which includes former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers and ex-Vikings GM Rick Spielman in advisory roles. Second interviews with both Cunningham and Peters are expected to take place shortly, and a hire will be in place before the team turns its attention to a coaching addition.

Cunningham began his front office career with the Ravens, working in the scouting and player personnel departments. That led him to Philadelphia, where he continued to climb the ranks and establish himself as one of the top young minds in the league. After joining the Bears in 2022 in his AGM role, he has continued to receive interest from a number of teams. Another step up the ladder via a Commanders hire would come as little surprise.

Peters has likewise been a top target for several teams recently. The 44-year old began his career in the scouting world, first with the Patriots and then with the Broncos. Since joining San Francisco’s front office in 2017, he has become a key lieutenant of GM John Lynch. Peters was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021, and he has elected to remain in the Bay Area despite overtures from other teams. He turned down the GM positions in Arizona and Tennessee last offseason, and it will interesting to see if he does the same in 2024.

With Harris in place as owner, signficant cap space ahead of free agency and the second overall pick in April’s draft, the Commanders could be an attractive destination for coaching and front office candidates. Both Cunningham and Peters could soon find themselves in a new role, although the runner-up for the Washington gig will still have interest from other teams as the hiring cycle takes shape.

Commanders Request Will McClay Interview; Panthers Interested In Cowboys Exec

January 9th, 2024 at 5:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Will McClay has been with the Cowboys for over 20 years, coming up through the scouting ranks en route to holding a prominent position in the NFC East franchise’s front office. The veteran exec has been selective about GM interviews, but extensive interest has also eluded him in recent years. That looks to be changing.

In addition to the Chargers’ request to interview the Cowboys’ player personnel VP, the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins notes the Commanders have sent in an interview summons. The Panthers also have McClay on their GM radar, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, though no request has come in yet. That could be telling, considering how many requests Carolina already has out.

Based on McClay’s offseason history and his role in Dallas, it will be difficult to pry him from the Jerry– and Stephen Jones-led front office. McClay has not interviewed for a GM job in the 2020s, and he turned down requests from the Texans and Lions — and potentially other clubs — during the late 2010s. NFL teams have been aware of McClay’s impact for a while, but it looks like it will take a special offer to disrupt his current situation.

The Cowboys promoted McClay, 57, to current post in 2017. He has made an integral impact in Dallas, which has enjoyed great success with first-round picks over the past decade and change. Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb represent the latest such investments to hit big, but the Cowboys are still benefiting from the Tyron Smith (2011) and Zack Martin (2014) selections. Although the Joneses have final say, with Jerry Jones operating as the team’s nominal GM for decades, McClay holds considerable responsibility with the organization.

“I realize what my role and my structure is, what we do here,” McClay said in 2022. “I feel good about what we are doing. That is the job I am happy with now. If an opportunity comes up that makes sense, sure I will look at it. But I am happy where I am now. I am happy with the job, the role and how we do things.”

It will be interesting to see if McClay takes the Los Angeles or Washington meetings. The Commanders have kept GM Martin Mayhew on, along with executive VP Marty Hurney. The team is believed to be looking for a director of football operations-type hire. We heard recently the Commanders’ new ownership was interested in a football ops boss to oversee a GM, making it possible Mayhew and/or Hurney could stay on despite Ron Rivera‘s firing. The interviews for this new position are taking place at Josh Harris‘ home, per the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala.

Carolina’s situation, with David Tepper‘s reputation taking a slew of hits, would seem unlikely to be the one that pulls McClay out of Dallas. The Panthers also have already reached out to a number of candidates to replace Scott Fitterer.

Cowboys DC Dan Quinn Plans To Interview With Commanders, Panthers, Chargers

January 9th, 2024 at 11:28am CST by Adam La Rose

To no surprise, Dan Quinn has already received a number of interview requests for head coach openings around the league. Given his decision in recent years to remain in his position as Cowboys defensive coordinator, however, the degree to which he reciprocates interest from outside teams will be a key storyline.

Quinn plans to meet with each of the three teams which have submitted an interview request to date, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. The Commanders, Panthers and Chargers are all interested in the 53-year-old, who has been in Dallas for the past three years in his current role. A return to a head coaching role has been touted on a number of occasions in the past, though.

Last offseason, the Cardinals interviewed Quinn twice; the Colts also had a second meeting lined up before he decided to bow out of the running for HC consideration. That move allowed him to once again guide one of the NFL’s top defenses, and the Cowboys have delivered on his side of the ball this season. Dallas finished the 2023 campaign ranked fifth in both points and yards allowed.

The team took a step back in terms of takeaways (finishing 12th in that department after the leading the league each of the past two seasons), although second-year corner DaRon Bland topped the NFL with nine interceptions and a record five pick-sixes. Having further confirmed his reputation as one of the top defensive minds in the game, Quinn will be a signficant add for any interested team should he elect to depart the Cowboys.

A recent report suggested the former Falcons HC is likelier to take a outside job in 2024 than he has been in previous years. For that reason, it comes as no surprise that he will at least take a first interview with Washington, Carolina and Los Angeles. Breer adds Quinn’s sit-downs will likely take place late next week.

Per the updated rules regarding head coaching interviews, virtual meetings with teams playing in the wild-card round cannot take place until at least January 16. Follow-up interviews in person are prohibited until after the divisional round has come to a close. Quinn’s schedule will thus depend on the level of success the Cowboys have in the coming weeks, but for now he intends to at least explore his non-Dallas options.

Chargers, Commanders Request HC Interview With Cowboys DC Dan Quinn

January 8th, 2024 at 9:48pm CST by Ben Levine

For a third-straight offseason, Dan Quinn is emerging as a popular name on the head coaching carousel. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Commanders and Chargers have requested permission to interview the Cowboys defensive coordinator. We learned earlier today that the Panthers had also requested an interview with Quinn.

After getting fired as the Falcons head coach during the 2020 campaign, it didn’t take long for Quinn to re-emerge as a head coaching candidate. During the 2022 offseason, he interviewed for the Bears, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings, and Giants jobs before ultimately deciding to stay in Dallas. He was sought after once again in 2023, garnering interest from the Cardinals, Broncos, and Colts. For a second-straight year, Quinn decided to stick with the Cowboys.

This time around, Quinn might be more open to a HC opportunity. We heard recently that Quinn is believed to be “more receptive to the right offer.” The coach has certainly rehabilitated his image during his three seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator. The Cowboys defense has finished two of those three seasons in first place for points allowed, and the defense has never finished lower than 11th in yards allowed.

Of course, Quinn’s resume goes beyond his stint in Dallas. Following a short stint as the Seahawks defensive coordinator, Quinn was named the Falcons head coach in 2015. He led his team to the Super Bowl during his second season at the helm, and the Falcons won another playoff game in 2017 after finishing with a 10-6 record. However, the team stumbled to 7-9 records in both 2018 and 2019, and Quinn was fired following an 0-5 start to the 2020 campaign.

Washington would certainly be an interesting fit for Quinn; the Commanders have become plenty familiar with their division foe over the past three seasons. As Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports opines, that makes a Quinn/Commanders pairing “hard to imagine,” although it’d be “quite a coup” if Josh Harris and co. can pull it off.

A number of candidates have already emerged for the Commanders HC job, with the organization requesting interviews with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. The Commanders have also been linked to Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, while incumbent offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is expected to be considered for the job.

The Chargers have also been connected to Belichick and Harbaugh. Their list of definitive candidates includes Glenn, Johnson, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/8/24

January 8th, 2024 at 9:24pm CST by Ben Levine

Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • OL Barry Wesley

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, WR Davion Davis, CB D’Angelo Mandell

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/24

January 8th, 2024 at 8:23pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Washington Commanders

  • Waived: TE Curtis Hodges

Commanders Request HC Interview With Texans OC Bobby Slowik

January 8th, 2024 at 7:59pm CST by Ben Levine

The Commanders are eyeing a somewhat familiar face in their head coaching search. According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, the Commanders requested an interview with Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

[RELATED: Commanders Fire Ron Rivera]

Slowik started his coaching career as a defensive assistant in Washington back in 2011. He eventually moved on to the 49ers, working his way up from a defensive quality control coach to offensive passing game coordinator. After one year in that latter role, the 36-year-old was hired as the Texans offensive coordinator last offseason.

Despite his offense featuring a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud and a number of question marks at the skill positions, the Texans offense was productive in 2023. The offense had the fewest giveaways in the NFL, and the passing offense ranked top-10 in yards. While veteran Devin Singletary eventually had to take over for struggling sophomore Dameon Pierce, Slowik got great production from his wide receivers, with Nico Collins (80 receptions, 1,297 yards, eight touchdowns) and rookie Tank Dell (47 catches, 709 yards, seven touchdowns) led the way.

The offense’s performance has now made Slowik a popular name on the head coaching market. The coordinator has already received an interview request from the Panthers for their head coaching job.

Slowik joins a growing list of candidates to replace Ron Rivera in Washington. That grouping includes Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn (Lions), Anthony Weaver and Mike Macdonald (Ravens), and Raheem Morris (Rams). Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is also expected to receive consideration for the HC post.

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.

Commanders Send Out Five GM Interview Requests

January 8th, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders have not yet dismissed Martin Mayhew from his GM post, but that has been expected. Owner Josh Harris will take the unusual step of sending out GM interview requests despite the incumbent still residing on staff.

Not long after firing Ron Rivera, Washington’s new ownership sent out five GM interview requests Monday. The team will attempt to meet with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham and Browns assistant GM Glenn Cook, according to the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters also received a request, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports, adding Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi also garnered one. Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby did as well, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

Many staffers listed have been connected to GM vacancies in the past, and have had their names floated as ones to watch in the 2024 hiring cycle. As such, it comes as no surprise that the Commanders will involve them in their transition to a new organizational structure. Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers as well as former Vikings GM Rick Spielman are in place as advisors for the search process concerning Washington’s’ next head coach and president of football operations.

Cunningham has been a top GM candidate in recent years. He joined the Eagles’ staff after a lengthy tenure with the Ravens before taking his current Bears posting under Ryan Poles last offseason. Cunningham spoke with the Titans about their vacancy in 2023, and he turned down the Cardinals position. He will no doubt be a leading candidate for teams in need of a new GM this year as well.

Like Cunningham, Peters is considered a name to watch. The 2023 campaign marks his third in his current role with San Francisco, as he spent the previous four seasons as the 49ers’ vice president of player personnel. That came after a lengthy stint with the Broncos, making him an experienced option on the GM market. A personal connection could also be in play with respect to the Commanders’ vacancy.

Peters and Myers have a long history with one another, as noted by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. That could explain (to an extent) the latter’s inclusion on Harris’ hand-picked search committee to replace Rivera and, eventually, Mayhew. Likely to be significantly in demand this offseason, Peters will be able to afford to be choosey when electing to remain in the Bay Area or depart for a GM opening. He will interview with Washington this week, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

The Commanders could be an attractive vacancy given Harris’ presence as owner, the team’s signficant cap space heading into free agency and the No. 2 selection in this year’s draft. A rebuild will be required, and the lack of a head coach certainly leaves the franchise with a degree of uncertainty, though. When speaking to the media on Monday, Harris said he intends to have a new head of football operations in place before a HC. The timeline along which a GM will be brought in will be worth watching closely.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Commanders Request HC Interviews With Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Raheem Morris, Anthony Weaver

January 8th, 2024 at 11:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Moving quickly in the wake of Ron Rivera‘s expected firing, the Commanders have already begun identifying targets for his replacement. The team has sent out a number of interview requests.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn are among the candidates being sought out, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Both staffers, and Johnson in particular, are believed to be hot commodities in the 2024 hiring cycle. As a result, it comes as little surprise that Washington will speak to each of them.

Johnson has enjoyed a successful second season in his current posting, helping the Lions remain on the league’s most efficient offenses. His work with quarterback Jared Goff has earned considerable praise, and it made him a firm target of the Panthers last year. Johnson, 37, is one of the younger coaches set to be on the market, but he has been an NFL staffer for 12 years.

Once again, Carolina is prepared to make a serious run at Johnson for the team’s latest head coaching vacancy. The Panthers are in need of a new HC and also a GM, and much of the franchise’s ability to rebound from the struggles of the past few years will depend on quarterback Bryce Young‘s development. Johnson would be a welcomed addition in that regard, but the presence of Justin Herbert in Los Angeles has made the Chargers gig an attractive one. A mutual interest is thought to exist between Johnson and the Bolts.

Glenn’s tenure with the Lions has been less consistent than Johnson’s, but he could likewise be connected to several openings this year. Detroit put together an extension for him last winter, as a sign of his success as part of Dan Campbell‘s staff. Glenn did make it clear in the summer, however, that he has his eyes on a head coaching gig at some point in his career.

In addition to the Lions duo, the Commanders have requested to speak with Rams DC Raheem Morris, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Morris has been in Los Angeles for the past three years in his second defensive coordinator gig at the NFL level. The 47-year-old’s coaching career includes a stint as secondary coach in Washington from 2012-14. A return to the nation’s capital would give the Commanders a veteran staffer and, like Rivera, one with a background on the defensive side of the ball.

Morris was a high-profile candidate for a number of vacancies in recent years. He interviewed twice with the Vikings in 2022 before Minnesota elected to add Kevin O’Connell. Morris was also linked to the Broncos‘ and Colts‘ gigs last year. It would come as little surprise if he were to land his first head coaching opportunity since his three-year run at the helm of the Buccaneers (2009-11).

Lastly, Washington has also submitted a request with Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver, per Schefter. Weaver holds the title of associate head coach, and his strong showing in Baltimore over the past three seasons has landed him on the HC radar. Ravens coordinators Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald are also expected to receive interest, but Weaver has experience at the coordinator level (with the Texans in 2020) and is a well-regarded staffer.

More names will no doubt emerge with respect to the Commanders’ search process, but for now a strong quartet has surfaced. Each candidate could speak with any number of teams currently looking to fill a vacancy, so Washington will have competition on the coaching market. Virtual interviews with candidates on playoff teams cannot take place until at least January 16 given this year’s adjustments to the interview procedure.

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