The Commanders interviewed Seahawks defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Karl Scott for their defensive coordinator opening, ESPN reports.
They have interviewed Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, requested Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and scheduled an interview with former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon for Thursday.
Scott, 40, has spent the past four years in his role as the Seahawks’ defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator. He was the Vikings’ defensive backs coach in 2021 in his first season in the NFL.
Scott has extensive experience in the college ranks, including as the defensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana in 2014.
The Commanders fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. after a 5-12 season.
With nine head coach vacancies, Brian Flores may end up getting one of the jobs.
But for now, he’s spending some time with a team that may like to have him as a top assistant.
Via multiple reports, Flores is interviewing with Washington for their defensive coordinator vacancy.
The Commanders fired Joe Whitt Jr. after the completion of the regular season. Head coach Dan Quinn had taken back defensive play-calling duties during the season, making the move unsurprising.
After three seasons as Dolphins head coach, Flores spent 2022 with the Steelers as senior defensive assist nd linebackers coach. He’s been the Vikings’ defensive coordinator since 2023, but his contract is up, making him eligible to interview with other teams for a lateral move.
But PFT reported earlier this week that the Vikings are confident they’ll be able to retain Flores if he does not get a head coaching job.
Commanders fans have something else to worry about.
Oft-injured quarterback Jayden Daniels will participate in the upcoming flag-football tournament in Saudi Arabia. Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Daniels will serve as a team captain, along with Tom Brady.
When the event was announced in September, various current NFL players were listed: Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, and Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill.
Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan will be the coaches.
The players will be covered by the same type of insurance the NFL uses for the Pro Bowl, the Olympics, and other sporting events involving active players. The players, and their teams, will be insured against losses arising from any potential injuries happening during the competition.
But no amount of insurance will ensure the player will be able to keep playing for his primary team. Which is all that Commanders fans will care about.
Obviously, the risk of injury while playing flag football is low. Insurance wouldn’t be needed, however, unless some degree of risk existed.
Which is exactly what former Patriots running back Robert Edwards learned 27 years ago.
PFT reported on Monday that the Vikings are confident Brian Flores will be back as the team’s defensive coordinator if he does not land a head coaching job, but that apparently isn’t stopping at least one other club from seeing if Flores is interested in running their defense.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Commanders want to interview Flores for that position on Dan Quinn’s coaching staff. Flores just wrapped up his third season as the coordinator in Minnesota.
Flores is expected to interview with the Ravens for their head coaching vacancy this week. There has not been any other word of head coaching interest so far this cycle.
Flores went 24-25 in three seasons as the head coach of the Dolphins before being fired after the 2021 season. He subsequently took legal action against the Dolphins, the NFL and three other clubs for racial discrimination and that claim is still pending.
The Commanders have their eye on someone with familial ties to the organization as they look for a new quarterbacks coach.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that they have requested an interview with Falcons quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams for the same role on Dan Quinn’s staff. The Commanders are also looking for a new offensive coordinator.
Williams is the son of Doug Williams, who was the Super Bowl XXII MVP while playing for Washington.
The younger Williams played quarterback for his father at Grambling and became an NFL assistant with the Saints in 2019. He joined the Falcons as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024 and moved into his current role in 2025.
