The Washington Commanders’ search for a new head coach is still ongoing, but Ben Johnson currently leads our power rankings.
As new Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters and managing partner Josh Harris search for a new head coach, the list of contenders is constantly being updated and reworked, with everyone having a favourite.
Some want Peters to transition the Commanders from defensive-minded coach Ron Rivera to an offensive style of football, and most of those people want Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
However, it is vital to note that Peters and Harris are looking for a leader, not an offensive or defensive player. That can occur from either side of the line of scrimmage.
“We’re looking for the best leader for this team, the Washington Commanders,” Peters stated during his introduction press conference. “So, we’ve established criteria to ensure that it aligns with that objective. And it won’t be in a box. It’s not going to be offensive or defensive. “It will be the best leader for this organization.”
With the next round of interviews underway or slated for after the AFC and NFC Championship Games, here are the latest power rankings of each candidate confirmed to have an in-person interview coming up or completed as of this writing.
Power Rankings for Commanders, Coaches, and Candidates
1. Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions’ Offensive Coordinator
Johnson delivered a superb performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their coach, Todd Bowles.
Bowles is known for scripting defensive attacks that annoy and confuse opposing quarterbacks, but Johnson was prepared for him and did things that had the Bucs’ defence tangled in knots at points during their Divisional Round victory.
“You always see something different in a play — week to week — that you didn’t see before or another team doing,” NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger said after the game.
Johnson’s ability to lead his offence to success in high-pressure situations while being tugged in multiple directions demonstrates his ability to focus in the face of distractions.
Something he will need in Washington.
2. Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans’ Offensive Coordinator.
Things didn’t go as well for Slowik and his Texans, but reaching the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs in their first year with quarterback C.J. Stroud, head coach DeMeco Ryans, and this coordinator himself demonstrates the team’s rising potential and intelligence.
Concerns about Slowik spending a year as a coordinator and play-caller before being called up to manage the entire team are alleviated by the fact that if Peters chooses him, he is doing so with years of experience with the coach, not just one.
3. Raheem Morris, Los Angeles Rams’ Defensive Coordinator.
Most people are opposed to’retread’ coaches, or those who have previously had top posts but been sacked, because many of those candidates get entrenched in their ways.
When it comes to Rivera, a lot of time was spent debating how the Commanders were attempting to recreate what he did with the Carolina Panthers, rather than how to best lead this new team in a potentially fresh direction.
Morris last held the reins of an NFL team with the Buccaneers over a decade ago, and while he had his own way of doing things at the time, he has learned from and with many others since.
Given Morris’ age at the time vs now, and the experiences he’s had since leaving Tampa Bay, it’s not only likely that he’s not aiming to repeat what he tried there, but rather to unleash his now mature approach to the job.
Making him a born-again new tire, seeking to put his imprint on a promising franchise.
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