After a succesful two-year run as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald was one of the top head coaching candidates around the league. He took the Seahawks’ HC position on Wednesday, but that does not appear to have been the only offer on the table. 
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the Commanders offered their head coaching position to Macdonald. The timing in this matter is critical, given the involvement of Lions OC Ben Johnson in both Washington’s and Seattle’s searches. Florio notes the Commanders’ offer was made after Johnson made it known he was electing to remain in Detroit for at least one more season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds (via Earl Forcey of 106.7 The Fan) that Washington contacted Macdonald while he was en route to Seattle to inquire about his continued interest in the position.
That certainly points to Macdonald being the team’s preference over its eventual hire, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn. For much of the hiring cycle, Johnson appeared to be the Commanders’ top choice, with his decision forcing the team to move in a different direction. As Schefter’s colleague John Keim reports, however, Johnson was not seen as a unanimous top choice at any point in the vetting process. No offers had been made to Johnson (or any other candidate) before the highly-acclaimed OC bowed out of the running, Keim adds.
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik also agreed to take himself out of the picture after receiving head coaching interest, although Keim notes he was never considered a likely hire for Washington. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Dan Graziano adds that while Johnson was considered by many around the league to be the Commanders’ top choice, Macdonald may have actually been the team’s No. 1 option.
The 36-year-old led the Ravens to a first-place finish in a number of defensive categories in 2023, and he will be tasked with overseeing a turnaround on that side of the ball with the Seahawks. Offensively, however, Seattle offers much more in the way of known commodities compared to Washington. The latter team has an unsettled QB situation which will likely be addressed with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, along with plenty of room for improvement along the O-line. The Commanders’ defense also bottomed out late in the 2023 season, and it will be a focus for free agent and draft moves. Macodonald’s decision to forgo the Commanders in favor of the Seahawks – if he did indeed have such an opportunity – is thus reasonable.
Quinn will be at the helm moving forward in the nation’s capital, and the ESPN piece notes how his leadership traits were well-received in his interview process. The beginning of his tenure with Washington will, however, likely be marked with the belief he was not atop the team’s pecking order for coaching candidates.
Even with all of Washington’s money and draft capital, I would still choose taking over the Seahawks’ collection of talent over the Washington situation. Not to mention I would choose living in the Seattle area over living in the DC area.
Agree on all points. The Seattle metro area is an underrated place to live as long as you’re able to afford it. Beautiful area,,,
If you’re downtown it’s the difference in dudes nodding off in the street or getting carjacked so I agree w you on Seattle being the superior destination
Yeah. Wouldn’t go down there unless I was going to a game. Those issues have always been there, but it didn’t seem as bad as people say when I was there a couple years ago. I obviously wasn’t in the worst areas.
Seattle has a far better roster then Washington, especially after they traded away there too DL options. Not to mention Seattle’s a much more stable organization that’s gives there coaches time to build a contender. And to too it off they have one of the top GM’s in the NFL.
Everyone praised the new GM in DC and he whiffed on his HC. Bad omen to start on. They wanted his guy or Ben J, not Quinn.
They need to use a new photo of this dude. It looks ridiculous.
Having the second pick in the draft scares some people – as messing it up can cost you the gig (unless you work for the Jets). If the GM is planning to make the pick for you (which is likely the case in DC) that makes it even worse.
Even so, it was a mistake for McDonald to choose the Seattle job, as they are pointed in one direction – down – and McDonald’s abilities won’t be able to fix that, as Seattle needs someone to get more out of their offense, not the defense.
Curious why you think Seattle biggest need is offense versus defense. For years now the defense has been one of the worst in the nfl even with investments in draft and free agents. It is very clear they need to turn that around, one of the reasons they hired Mcdonald. And how is team pointed down and the Commanders aren’t? Hawks have needs at positions just like any team but not seeing them drastically pointing down.
Mike’s backup plan was to either:
Run the old family’s farm
OR
Run the Mcfamily’s fast food empire.