Often times, the solution to your issues is closer than you may imagine. In this instance, Josh Harris, the owner of the Washington Commanders, may find the solution to his possible head coach dilemma just across the Beltway. Ron Rivera’s tenure as head coach of the Commanders (4-11) is obviously coming to an end. The last straw for Rivera will probably come when Washington has its worst season under his direction. New owners usually want to bring in own people to oversee the club. There are already rumors circulating that Harris may leave Rivera at the end of the current campaign.
Although Harris’s plans are still unknown, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer pointed out that the owner of the Commanders has a strong obsession with the Baltimore Ravens. “We’re all learning on the fly about Commanders owner Josh Harris, who was accompanied by one of his limited partners, Mitchell Rales, at this week’s league meetings in Dallas,” writes Breer. “And one thing I learned down in Texas over the last few days could at least color how the next couple of months go with the new owners and their team – Harris likes how the Commanders’ beltway rivals from Baltimore do business.”
If Harris wants to model the Commanders after the Ravens, hiring their defensive coordinator, Albert Breer would be a pivotal first step in the right direction.
Although it seems that the best offensive brains are chosen for every head coaching position, Macdonald, 36, has established himself as one of the front-runners going into the summer. With the Ravens defense shutting down the San Francisco 49ers and recording five interceptions in a 33-19 victory on Christmas at Levi Stadium, his name has never been more popular than it is now.
The 49ers (11-4) came into the Monday Night Football clash on Christmas with a six-game winning run and an average of 34.5 points per game. Since Macdonald took over as defensive coordinator prior to the 2018 season, the Ravens defense has been among the best in the National Football League. Baltimore has led the league in sacks (54), and they have given up the fewest points per game (16.3) this season. The defense of Macdonald gave up the third-fewest points per game (18.5) in 2022. Breer further stated that Harris might pursue Joe Hortiz, the director of player personnel for the Ravens, and Nick Matteo, the vice president of football administration, as possible candidates to take over as general manager of the Commanders in the event that Martin Mayhew is fired.
“Maybe this means Harris tabs a Baltimore exec like Joe Hortiz or Nick Matteo to be his next GM, or a top Raven assistant like Mike Macdonald to be his head coach,” Breer writes. “Maybe it doesn’t. But at the very least, it brings a little insight into how he’s building and what he’ll be modeling after going forward.”
Should Washington need a new head coach after this season, it won’t be the only team considering Macdonald. However, Macdonald’s decision regarding becoming a head coach may be influenced if Harris is willing to rebuild the team in a manner like to the Ravens and appoints Hortiz or Matteo as general manager. Harris ought to exert every effort to secure Macdonald’s appointment as the Commanders’ next head coach, considering his achievements in Baltimore.
