5 Washington Commanders Coaching Candidates if Ron Rivera Gets Fired
After the Washington Commanders dismissed both defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer, it increasingly feels like Ron Rivera -- now the playcaller on that side of the ball -- will get a chance to finish out the 2023 season.
But while Washington has twice come close to beating the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles this season, their 2023 campaign has largely been disappointing.
Quarterback Sam Howell has shown positive flashes, but no one has thrown more than his 13 interceptions, and he's been sacked a staggering 55 times behind a porous offensive line.
Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes -- whom Washington selected with the 16th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft -- has been a major disappointment in his rookie season. To make matters worse, last year's first-round pick Jahan Dotson has 42 catches for 435 yards in 12 games, hardly a breakout season.
And while the Commanders added extra draft capital by trading pass rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young in advance of the trade deadline, they now have glaring needs on the edge as well.
Again, no final decision has been made. Perhaps the Commanders will win their final five games, and Rivera will return for a fifth season as their coach. But what feels more likely is that new Commanders owner Josh Harris will part ways with Rivera -- among others in high organizational positions -- after the season. If that does indeed happen, here are five possible replacements.
Eric Bieniemy: Offensive Coordinator, Commanders
One way to endear yourself to other owners around the league if you're Harris would be to give Bieniemy a shot to sink or swim as the leader of the franchise, ending the years-long debate about why the former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator hasn't gotten a shot to lead a team himself.
There's no question about Bieniemy's offensive bonafides, and the Chiefs have certainly seemed to miss his presence this season. It would also be good to have continuity in an offensive system if you believe that Howell is your long-term quarterback.
But we don't know how players -- some of whom apparently had reservations about Bieniemy's intensity back in the summer, according to Rivera -- feel about him. More importantly, we don't know what Harris' perspective is on Bieniemy, who was hired before he became owner of the franchise.
Could Bill Belichick coach the Washington Commanders in 2024?
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Bill Belichick: Head Coach, New England Patriots
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote in early November that there was "chatter in some league circles" that the Commanders could attempt to trade for Belichick this offseason. That might not quite be a report, but it's not something that should be dismissed either.
From here, though, it's hard to see the logic in the fit. That's not to say a new owner won't become enamored with the idea of hiring the greatest coach in the history of the sport, but there's a reason it feels like Belichick won't be back in New England next season.
If players were concerned about the intensity of Bieniemy, they probably really wouldn't enjoy "the Patriot Way" coming to Landover.
What's more, Belichick has struggled mightily in terms of player evaluations as the top football executive for the Patriots in recent years, and would likely either want to be the de-factor GM in Washington or pick who is. What has he done recently to prove that he's the right guy to have such a strong say in personnel?
The Commanders could bring in a 71-year-old Belichick, with his son Steve as defensive coordinator and Josh McDaniels calling offensive plays. But at this stage, that just doesn't feel like something a forward-thinking team would do.
Bobby Slowik: Offensive Coordinator, Houston Texans
As the offensive coordinator for DeMeco Ryans, Slowik has been at the forefront of a shockingly successful season in Houston, helping to develop quarterback C.J. Stroud and receiver Tank Dell, among others.
It feels like the Texans have shed the label as the most dysfunctional organization in football, and as Harris looks to move beyond the Daniel Snyder Era, bringing in someone with that type of background might be appealing.
Slowik, 36, might need another year or two of seasoning before becoming a head coach, but you could do worse than an upcoming offensive mind that learned under Kyle Shanahan and has had tremendous success with a rookie quarterback.
Jim Harbaugh: Head Coach, University of Michigan
Harbaugh has flirted with returning to the NFL over the past two offseasons, and after a scandal-ridden season, this may be his time -- like Pete Carroll in 2010 -- to return to the professional ranks.
Frankly, it's hard to believe that Harbaugh has been out of the NFL for close to a decade. Things may have ended poorly in San Francisco, but under his watch, the 49ers went 44-19-1, made three NFC Championship Game appearances and narrowly lost to Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. That's a pretty amazing resume to pair with very successful collegiate stints at Stanford and Michigan.
Some general managers may shy away from wanting to work with Harbaugh, but presumably if Rivera isn't back in D.C., general manager Martin Mayhew also won't be. If Harbaugh got the chance to pick his general manager and retool the Commanders, they could return to contention in short order.
Ben Johnson: Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
Even after a disappointing Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Lions are 8-3 and at the forefront of the NFC playoff race. Dan Campbell has built an excellent culture in Detroit, but Johnson's offensive prowess has been key in turning around a franchise that's been a decades-long loser.
Does the hot offensive mind always become a great head coach? No, but teams are so desperate to get the quarterback position right, they continue to take shots. Johnson has helped to revive the career of Jared Goff in Detroit, and would be a great fit in D.C., whether the plan would be to proceed with Howell or draft a quarterback.
The biggest question with Johnson is whether he would be interested in the Washington job, or if he'll have another offer(s) that he believes is more attractive.
