It’s a ‘foregone conclusion’ that Ben Johnson winds up as Commanders’ head coach
After the Washington Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera on Jan. 8, several NFL insiders identified Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their likely top target.
But first, Washington needed to hire a general manager. After a thorough, but rapid search that saw the Commanders interview five candidates, they hired former 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters as the new general manager.
Washington has interviewed eight known candidates for head coach:
Ravens associate head coach/DL coach Anthony Weaver
Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris
Earlier this week, CBS Sports’ analyst — and former NFL quarterback — Boomer Esiason said Johnson to Washington was a “lock.” Still, the Commanders have been busy scheduling second interviews throughout the week. Washington will reportedly fly to Detroit after Sunday’s NFC Championship to speak with Johnson and Glenn for the second time.
The Commanders are tentatively scheduled to interview Quinn again next week, too.
However, another NFL insider weighed in on Washington’s search for a head coach. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington said on Friday that Johnson to the Commanders was a “foregone conclusion.”
“It is a pretty foregone conclusion in Washington, albeit one that we’ll have to wait on to see with certainty, that Ben Johnson will wind up being the coach of the Commanders after the Lions’ season ends,” Darlington said on ESPN’s SportsCenter via Marlowe Alter of the Detroit Free Press.
If the Lions lose in the NFC Championship to the 49ers on Sunday, Washington can hire Johnson next week. If the Lions win and advance to the Super Bowl, the Commanders must wait another week. The Cardinals and Colts waited until after the Super Bowl last season to hire their head coaches. undefined
