Report: Washington Commanders request interview with Ravens DC Mike MacDonald

The Washington Commanders reportedly requested to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald.

MacDonald, who operates one of the top defenses in the league, is the first reported candidate for the Commanders gig. Washington fired head coach Ron Rivera earlier Monday.

Now, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports, MacDonald could land an interview in Washington.

“Ravens promising DC Mike MacDonald received a request to interview with the Commanders, source said,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “One of the bright young minds.”

MacDonald returned to the Ravens last season after spending a year at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh as the defensive coordinator. Previously, he coached under John Harbaugh with the Ravens since 2014 after bouncing around in high school and at Georgia as an assistant.

With the Ravens’ performance this year, locking up the No. 1 seed and the constant improvement from MacDonald, he’s become the latest young, hot coaching candidate.

Rivera, 62, had been on the hot seat with Washington having dropped seven games in a row after a 4-5 start. The Dallas Cowboys made it eight straight in the season finale Sunday with a 38-10 win. 

Rivera has been at the helm in D.C. since the 2020 season, when he was hired to replace Jay Gruden. The Commanders captured an NFC East title in Rivera’s inaugural season, albeit with a 7-9 record. Since then, Washington has gone 19-31 with zero playoff appearances.

Prior to joining the Commanders, Rivera spent nine seasons (2011-19) as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Carolina went 76-63 under Rivera, winning three NFC South titles and coming just short of winning Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos.

team owner from Dan Snyder. Harris hasn’t commented publicly since Nov. 24, when Rivera made the decision to relieve Jack Del Rio from his duties as defensive coordinator. At the time, Harris described his feelings with the team as “disappointed and frustrated.”

Along with Rivera, the status of general manager Martin Mayhew is now also in doubt. As for where Washington goes next, the next regime will walk into a situation with new, stable ownership, some building blocks already on the roster such as receiver Terry McLaurin, running back Brian Robinson and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. The team also has a chance to snag a franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.