Getty Image / Scott Taetsch
The Washington Commanders are in the market for a new offensive coordinator after firing Scott Turner earlier this week.
Their search didn’t get off to the best start.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Commanders reached out to Jim Caldwell about an interview for their vacant offensive coordinator position and he turned down their interview request.
The #Commanders reached out to former #Colts and #Lions head coach Jim Caldwell about their vacant OC job, sources tell me and @RapSheet, but he told them he’s only pursuing head-coaching opportunities. He’s interviewed for two this cycle.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 13, 2023
Garafolo added that Caldwell told the Commanders is only interested in head coaching positions at this time. Caldwell has already interviewed with the Denver Broncos and Carolina for their vacant head coaching jobs.
Only interviewing for head coaching jobs is absolutely the right move for Caldwell. We have plenty of evidence that Caldwell is a good NFL head coach who should be strongly considered for open positions this offseason.
Caldwell was a head coach for 7 years between the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions. In this seasons, he made the playoff 4 times, won 2 division titles, and took the Colts to a Super Bowl. He has a career record of 62-50 as a head coach.
Neither of the times that he was fired made much sense. He has a bad 3rd season with the Colts and the team went 2-14, but Peyton Manning missed that entire year because of a neck injury, leaving Caldwell with very little to work with at QB.
The Lions fired Caldwell after he went 9-7 in his 4th season with them. It was his 3rd season with a record above .500.
The Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator position also probably isn’t the most appealing right now. The team has major question marks at quarterback and they probably won’t be able to get a franchise QB for at least another year.
That means whoever takes over this job will see their job security tied to some rotation of Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, and Sam Howell.
Caldwell is probably making the right call taking head coaching interviews instead of interviewing for this position.