NFL Rumors: Commanders, Lions OC Johnson, DC Glenn, Cowboys DC Quinn to Meet About HC

The Washington Commanders are reportedly set to meet with two key members of the Detroit Lions' coaching staff about their head coaching vacancy Tuesday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Commanders officials are in Detroit to meet with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Along with the Seattle Seahawks, the Commanders are one of only two NFL teams left with a head coaching vacancy.

Per ESPN's John Keim, many in the NFL have "long anticipated" Johnson landing the Washington job, but it is "not a foregone conclusion," as Seattle also has interest.

Keim reported that Glenn is valued due to his leadership with one person who coached him while he was a player saying: "The biggest thing is he's ambitious and a competitor. He has infectious enthusiasm."

One day after the end of the 2023 regular season, the Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera, who led the team to a 4-13 record this season.

Washington has missed the playoffs in three straight years and hasn't had a winning record since 2016, resulting in new owner Josh Harris conducting a thorough search for the Commanders' next head coach.

The Commanders seem to be narrowing that search down, as they interviewed Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and assistant head coach Anthony Weaver on Monday, per Schefter and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Washington has already interviewed Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik twice as well, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Commanders would interview Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on Tuesday, calling him a "strong candidate."

By waiting to name a head coach, the Commanders can hire either of the Lions or Ravens candidates they are interviewing immediately since they were eliminating from the playoffs over the weekend.

Had the Lions won the NFC Championship Game and had the Ravens won the AFC Championship Game, the Lions would have had to have waited until after the Super Bowl to hire any of their coaches.

As far as Johnson and Glenn are concerned, they helped the Lions go on one of the best runs in franchise history this season.

The Lions won two playoff games and played in their first NFC Championship Game since 1991. They led the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers by 17 points at one point, but ultimately blew the lead and lost 34-31.

It can be argued that Johnson's offense was the driving force behind the Lions going 12-5 and winning the NFC North this season, as they ranked third in total offense and fifth in scoring offense.

The second-year OC got he most out of his offensive players, as quarterback Jared Goff threw for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both had over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and double-digit touchdowns, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to a first-team All-Pro selection, and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta was named a Pro Bowler after racking up 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 scores.

Glenn's defense was only 19th in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed, but they were 11th in the league with 16 interceptions and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had a Pro Bowl year under his guidance with 11.5 sacks.

Given the Commanders' situation, it may make the most sense to hire an offensive coach like Johnson.

The Commanders own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and there is seemingly a solid chance they will use it to select a quarterback such as USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels.

Given how Johnson helped resurrect Goff's career, there may not be a better candidate to work with a rookie quarterback than him.