Commanders Coach Search: Texans' Bobby Slowik Spurns Washington, Returns to Houston
The Washington Commanders' pursuit of a new head coach met a roadblock Tuesday afternoon - and then another just hours later.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson informed Washington and the Seattle Seahawks he'd be returning to Detroit - while the Commanders' brass was in-air to interview Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Shortly thereafter, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik similarly removed his name from the final two head coaching vacancies, taking perhaps the two most touted young offensive minds off the market.
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The 36-year-old Slowik would've been the youngest active head coach in the NFL, but he spent six years with Commanders general manager Adam Peters as members of the San Francisco 49ers and interviewed twice for the job - once virtually and another in-person.
While in San Francisco, Slowik worked under head coach Kyle Shanahan, spending 2022 as the passing game coordinator and helping orchestrate the unit's success despite starting three different players - Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy.
Last spring, Slowik followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston, where he oversaw the development of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Slowik inherited an offense that ranked No. 31 in yards and No. 30 in both points and giveaways. In just one year with Slowik as offensive coordinator, the Texans improved to No. 12, No. 13 and No. 1 in those three categories, respectively.
Houston's rushing offense ranked No. 20 in attempts and No. 22 in yards, but its aerial attack was much better, finishing No. 12 in pass attempts and touchdowns, No. 7 in passing yards and No. 2 in interceptions.
Rookie quarterbacks often come with the risk of being turnover-prone. Stroud threw 12 interceptions in 25 college starts. He threw only five in his 19 starts during his rookie campaign.
Slowik's offense proved risk-averse and well-suited to Stroud, who was filled with praise when asked about Slowik's impact on him this season.
"When I came in, I knew he was going to push me hard," Stroud said. "He held me at a standard all year. Held me accountable. A lot of times when you’re playing good ball, guys kind of let you do what you do and leave you alone.
"Bobby was always on me about the little details in my position and I appreciated that because you don’t always get that."
Slowik is the son of 10-year NFL defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, who last held the role with the Denver Broncos in 2008. He has two brothers currently working in the NFL - David, the Miami Dolphins' outside linebackers coach, and Steve, an area scout for the 49ers.
He started his coaching career as a video assistant with the Washington Commanders in 2010 and helped in the coaching staff department's operations through 2013.
From 2014 to 2016, Slowik was out of coaching, serving as analyst at Pro Football Focus. He returned to San Francisco in 2017 as a defensive quality control assistant.
His experience on both sides of the ball and being in and out of the league gives him a unique perspective ... and has resulted in a strong relationship with Stroud.
"He was always just hard on me, but also showed me a lot of love – a ton of love," Stroud said. "Very knowledgeable, can really dice a defense up. Puts a lot of trust in his players and really just never got away from what he knows.
"Of course, tailored his coaching to what was here at the Texans, but he did what was at the core of his heart and I could appreciate that."
Now, Stroud gets a chance to continue his appreciation for Slowik while both rising stars seek to improve their stock in Houston next season.
As for the Commanders, the search for Ron Rivera's replacement rolls on - with a particular focus on the defensive side of the ball.
A trio of defensive coordinators - Glenn, the Baltimore Ravens' Mike Macdonald and the Dallas Cowboys' Dan Quinn - are becoming viable candidates.
But for now, one thing is certain: the Commanders' next head coach won't be Johnson or Slowik, each of whom appeared to be potential favorites at various points in the cycle.
