Sources – Commanders, Seahawks eyeing HC candidates from Ravens, Lions – ESPN

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    Adam Schefter, ESPN Senior Writer January 27, 2024, 10:30 p.m. ET

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    • Joined ESPN in 2009
    • Former president of the Pro Football Writers of America and author of four books

Of all the people watching Sunday's conference championship games, few may be more interested than the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks – the last two NFL teams with head coaching vacancies.

The Commanders and Seahawks have their eyes on the coaches for Sunday's teams and are waiting to interview them for their head coaching jobs.

The Commanders are waiting to conduct second interviews with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and assistant head coach/defensive coach Anthony Weaver, as well as Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, league sources told ESPN .

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Some consider Johnson to be the “presumptive favorite” for the Washington post, but several sources insist that is not true. While Johnson could land the Commanders' head coaching job, sources insist there are other strong candidates – most notably Macdonald, Weaver, Glenn and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn – who remain “very much in play.”

Sources said Quinn will also interview with commanders a second time.

The Seahawks have not had the opportunity to interview Macdonald and cannot do so until the Ravens' season ends. This raises the question of whether Seattle would be willing to wait to interview him first if Baltimore advances to the Super Bowl.

Since the Seahawks have already interviewed Johnson, they are allowed to talk to him this week regardless of Detroit's outcome, as NFL rule states: “Beginning Monday, January 29th through Sunday, February 4th (the release week between the conference championship games and the Super For head coach candidates employed by clubs participating in the Super Bowl, second interviews are permitted in person or virtually. Prior notice must be provided to the employing club.”

So far, the Commanders have interviewed Weaver, Macdonald, Johnson, Glenn, Quinn and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

The Seahawks interviewed Johnson, Quinn, Slowik, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith.

During this hiring cycle, eight NFL teams have changed head coaches and six have already filled their positions. The Patriots hired Jerod Mayo, the Raiders hired Antonio Pierce, the Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh, the Titans hired Brian Callahan, the Panthers hired Dave Canales and the Falcons hired Raheem Morris.