Commanders GM Adam Peters Could Be Driving Force Behind Texans' Bobby Slowik Hire
The Washington Commanders netted a strong general manager with former San Francisco 49ers executive Adam Peters - and now look to do the same in the head coaching market.
Since firing Ron Rivera on Jan. 8, Washington's embarked on an extensive search ... but may ultimately return to a name Peters is innately familiar with: Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
The 36-year-old Slowik coached for six years under Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers, 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.
Slowik's stint in the Bay Area overlapped with Peters; both arrived in 2017, the former as a defensive quality control and the latter as vice president of player personnel.
They both worked their way up the ladder before departing for bigger roles elsewhere - Slowik to the Texans and now Peters to the Commanders.
Bobby Slowik (left) and Adam Peters (right) spent extensive time together with the San Francisco 49ers.
Commander Country SI
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 31st in yards and 30th 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.
Under Slowik and Stroud, the Texans' offense finished 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.
Unsurprisingly, Slowik brings a playing background, earning all-conference honors as a receiver at Michigan Tech University in 2008.
He's also innately familiar with the D.C. area, having started his coaching career with the Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, 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.
In essence, he's worked on both sides of the ball - and has tasted life out of the league. It gives him a unique perspective ... and 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."
The Commanders aren't the only team interested in Slowik, who's interviewed virtually with the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers.
But Washington met with Slowik in person Tuesday, just two days after its virtual introduction - though Peters and Slowik need no background on one another.
Peters, along with owner Josh Harris and the rest of the Commanders' brass, have a big decision ahead ... and familiarity may ultimately win out.
If so, Peters' past with Slowik could become a prominent factor in Washington's coaching choice - and may just result in the Commanders landing one of the NFL's brightest young offensive minds.
