4 Washington Commanders coaching candidates to replace Ron Rivera, including Jim Harbaugh

The Washington Commanders hired head coach Ron Rivera in 2020 to bring stability to an organization in disarray.. With a new ownership group now at the helm and a coaching change possible, it’s time to start evaluating Commanders coaching candidates..
Rivera initially found success in Washington.. The Commanders went 7-9 in 2020, making the playoffs and playing the eventual Super Bowl champions close in a 31-23 loss in the Wild Card round.. It seemed like a fantastic sign for the franchise’s future..
However, there has never really been any improvement since then.. Washington went 7-10 in 2021 then 8-8-1 last season, missing the playoffs each time.. With the Commanders looking doubtful about making the playoffs in 2023, Rivera’s future looks bleak..
With that in mind, we’ll evaluate some of the Washington Commander’s top coaching candidates to replace Ron Rivera in 2024..
Many believe it’s just a matter of Lincoln Riley leaving USC time.. He’s already on the NFL’s radar and owners have a habit of pursuing high-profile coaching candidates.. While the new Commanders’ brass is far more stable than their predecessor, that doesn’t guarantee they won’t go big-game hunting..
Riley’s track record speaks for itself.. From 2017-’21 with the Oklahoma Sooners, he posted a combined 55-10 record.. NFL teams like the dominant record, but what stands out even more is Riley’s work with quarterbacks..
Under his tutelage, Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018) each won the Heisman Trophy.. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts finished as a Heisman runner-up and Riley is widely credited with helping all three quarterbacks develop into NFL starters..
Related:
Ron Rivera’s future in doubt with Washington Commanders
Even if the Commanders won’t be in a position to pair Riley with Caleb Williams, hiring the Trojans’ head coach would still be very beneficial.. He’s better at adapting offenses around his quarterback and skill players than Eric Bieniemy, plus he could mentor whatever quarterback Washington takes with its top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft..

 

Washington wisely targeted Rivera a few years ago because of his leadership qualities and his positive reputation among players, coaches and executives around the league.. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has many of the same qualities, except he can also fix the Commander’s defense..
Before taking over Dallas, the Cowboys ranked 28th in defense (29..6 PPG allowed), 23rd in yards per play allowed (5..9) and bottom 10 in defensive DVOA.. Since Quinn took over as head of this unit, Dallas has had one of the best defenses in the NFL for three straight seasons..
Quinn could work wonders in Washington, effectively utilizing one of the NFL’s best defenses to create a deadly pass rush.. Additionally, Quinn’s insurance programs will help address many of the issues Washington’s high schools have faced over the past two years..
NFL coaches get some second chances.. Quinn has learned from his mistakes with the Atlanta Falcons, mostly taking on too much responsibility.. With a new opportunity, he could find a quality offensive coordinator and let Washington’s general manager handle roster construction.. Quinn is one of our favorite Commanders coaching candidates in 2024..
NFL teams will have no problem with the allegations regarding the Jim Harbaugh matter.. Sign stealing in college football occurs entirely because coaches are not allowed to communicate with their leaders on the field through headset intercom systems.. Harbaugh will get that back in the NFL..
It’s no secret that Harbaugh wants to return to professional football, he’s made that clear over the past two seasons.. However, the combination of the right opportunity not being available and several alternatives surpassing Harbaugh in coaching searches makes him an option in 2024..
Harbaugh