The Washington Commanders have become one of the many NFL teams that will be looking for a new head coach this off-season. After a posting a disappointing 4-13 record in his fourth season at the helm, Ron Rivera was relieved of his duties late on Sunday night, ending a tenure that was filled with mediocrity until the final campaign’s failures, and the team is wasting no time in bringing in new candidates to interview for the vacancy.
Rivera never finished with a winning record in Washington. In 2020, his first season at the helm, the Commanders won the NFC East and hosted a Wild Card game, but they did so with a 7-9 record on the year. They went 7-10 and 8-8-1 in the next two seasons and in the middle of the pack in the NFL standings, but they fell flat in 2023, and it has cost Rivera is job.
NFL: Commanders Interview Candidates For Vacancies
Commanders requested permission to interview Ravens assoc HC and DL coach Anthony Weaver for their head coach job, per source. https://t.co/LCXBkyLH1M
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2024
The Commanders have wasted no time putting together a list of potential candidates for interviews, both for the coaching spot and the general manager position. Adam Schefter fired off a series of tweets on Monday morning, detailing which guys Washington is planning on hosting for a visit:
Raheem Morris
He has been around the NFL for many years in different coaching positions, and Morris spent the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. He has head coaching experience, manning the job for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011 and posting an overall record of 17-31. Morris also served as interim head coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.
Anthony Weaver
He got his start in the college coaching ranks under Urban Meyer, and has worked under guys like Rex Ryan and Bill O’Brien during his time in the NFL. Weaver has been with the Baltimore Ravens for the last three years, working as the defensive line coach, and was named the associate head coach for 2023.
Adam Peters (GM)
Peters has been around the NFL for 21 seasons, and just finished his third as the assistant general manager of the San Francisco 49ers. He spent the previous four years as the vice president of player personnel, and was with the Denver Broncos for eight years before that.
Washington Will Have Draft Capital To Work With
More coaching changes: the Washington Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/4Ri6NQsNLv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2024
Whichever candidate steps in and fills either of the jobs will have some firepower to work with in his first off-season. Due to their poor record this season, the Commanders will have the rights to the second overall pick in the upcoming draft, and they are widely projected to take quarterback Drake Maye with the selection, should they stay put.
Washington will have the second-most “power” in the 2024 Draft, behind only the Cardinals, according to Tankathon.
There may be other available jobs that feature more roster structure than there currently is with the Commanders, but the opportunity to build from the ground up under new ownership could make it at attractive destination.
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