ESPN: Belichick Was 'Very Interested' in Commanders HC, 'Magic Johnson Lobbied Hard'

Before the Washington Commanders tabbed Dan Quinn as their new head coach earlier this offseason, they reportedly had the chance to hire a coaching legend.

According to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler, former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was "very interested" in the Washington opening. It was also reported that part-owner Magic Johnson "lobbied hard for Belichick to be the team's new head coach," but principal owner Josh Harris eventually superseded him and went in a different direction.

Belichick grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, so he likely would've welcomed the chance to work near his hometown. He reportedly spoke with former Patriots staffer and new Commanders general manager Adam Peters, expressing admiration for the job he had done in personnel since he departed New England.

Unfortunately, Harris determined early on that Belichick was not the right person for the job in Washington. He reportedly "told confidants in early December that he respected Belichick but wasn't going to hire him." Part of his decision stemmed from his desire to create a similar leadership structure to the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, the other franchises he owns.

Both those teams have a "strong" general manager who works above the head coach. Belichick, who had acted as both head coach and GM during his tenure with the Patriots, reportedly "had questions about working in a strong-GM system." The hiring of Peters before hiring a head coach, which was "a decision that Johnson endorsed," was viewed as "a big tell that Belichick was not a fit."

The Commanders are coming off a 4-13 campaign in 2023, their third straight year without a playoff appearance.

Only time will tell if Harris made the right decision by passing over Belichick in favor of Quinn, who was on the opposite side of the Patriots' epic 28-3 comeback in Super Bowl LI, which was the fifth of Belichick's six Super Bowl victories.