Moving quickly in the wake of Ron Rivera‘s expected firing, the Commanders have already begun identifying targets for his replacement. The team has sent out a number of interview requests. 
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn are among the candidates being sought out, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Both staffers, and Johnson in particular, are believed to be hot commodities in the 2024 hiring cycle. As a result, it comes as little surprise that Washington will speak to each of them.
Johnson has enjoyed a successful second season in his current posting, helping the Lions remain on the league’s most efficient offenses. His work with quarterback Jared Goff has earned considerable praise, and it made him a firm target of the Panthers last year. Johnson, 37, is one of the younger coaches set to be on the market, but he has been an NFL staffer for 12 years.
Once again, Carolina is prepared to make a serious run at Johnson for the team’s latest head coaching vacancy. The Panthers are in need of a new HC and also a GM, and much of the franchise’s ability to rebound from the struggles of the past few years will depend on quarterback Bryce Young‘s development. Johnson would be a welcomed addition in that regard, but the presence of Justin Herbert in Los Angeles has made the Chargers gig an attractive one. A mutual interest is thought to exist between Johnson and the Bolts.
Glenn’s tenure with the Lions has been less consistent than Johnson’s, but he could likewise be connected to several openings this year. Detroit put together an extension for him last winter, as a sign of his success as part of Dan Campbell‘s staff. Glenn did make it clear in the summer, however, that he has his eyes on a head coaching gig at some point in his career.
In addition to the Lions duo, the Commanders have requested to speak with Rams DC Raheem Morris, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Morris has been in Los Angeles for the past three years in his second defensive coordinator gig at the NFL level. The 47-year-old’s coaching career includes a stint as secondary coach in Washington from 2012-14. A return to the nation’s capital would give the Commanders a veteran staffer and, like Rivera, one with a background on the defensive side of the ball.
Morris was a high-profile candidate for a number of vacancies in recent years. He interviewed twice with the Vikings in 2022 before Minnesota elected to add Kevin O’Connell. Morris was also linked to the Broncos‘ and Colts‘ gigs last year. It would come as little surprise if he were to land his first head coaching opportunity since his three-year run at the helm of the Buccaneers (2009-11).
Lastly, Washington has also submitted a request with Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver, per Schefter. Weaver holds the title of associate head coach, and his strong showing in Baltimore over the past three seasons has landed him on the HC radar. Ravens coordinators Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald are also expected to receive interest, but Weaver has experience at the coordinator level (with the Texans in 2020) and is a well-regarded staffer.
More names will no doubt emerge with respect to the Commanders’ search process, but for now a strong quartet has surfaced. Each candidate could speak with any number of teams currently looking to fill a vacancy, so Washington will have competition on the coaching market. Virtual interviews with candidates on playoff teams cannot take place until at least January 16 given this year’s adjustments to the interview procedure.
Interviews should be held during probowl. Or when a team is eliminated from contention.