With just one game left to coach, Ron Rivera is a sitting duck with the Washington Commanders. The widespread expectation points to new team owner Josh Harris imploring his front office to find a new head coach this offseason, one who can help the team get back to competing for playoff spots.
If Rivera is let go after four seasons with the team, some view the Commanders as one of, if not the best situation for a new coach to jump into. In which case, you would think the Commanders, with new owners likely looking to make a splashy hire, may chase after the biggest, best names available.
Yet, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated paints a very different picture as to how the new ownership group may be operating.
“I’d be surprised if new Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris goes in on Belichick or Harbaugh, and that’s because a lot of his work has been done looking at NFL models, rather than just individuals, should he look to reshape his franchise as expected.”
NFL insider Albert Breer on Washington Commanders
Breer went on to note how he’s heard that Commanders owners are intrigued by the models the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles have embraced. To which the Commanders have already hired Eugene Shen, a former NFL analytics expert who used to work for John Harbaugh in Baltimore. Perhaps that’s a hint of what’s to come in Washington?
Staying with that train of thought, Breer also brought up an outside-the-box idea, like Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz taking over as GM, with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald following him from Baltimore to be the team’s new head coach.
No matter what, insiders expect the Commanders to embark on a widespread coaching search that includes a wealth of candidates to choose from.