ASHBURN, Va. — In the days since parting ways with Ron Rivera as head coach and head of football operations for the Commanders, owner Josh Harris and his team have been busy interviewing candidates to fill the now vacant front office role.
WUSA9 sports anchor Chick Hernandez has confirmed that Adam Peters, assistant general manager for the San Francisco 49ers, and Ian Cunningham, assistant GM for the Chicago Bears, are finalists for the head of football operations job.
Peters met with Harris and company on Tuesday in Miami. Cunningham had his first interview Wednesday. Both men are both confirmed for a second round of interviews with Harris, as first reported by the NFL Network. Also confirfmed to be at those interviews, as first reported by the Washington Post, will be limited partners Mitch Rales, David Blitzer and Magic Johnson.
Peters, 44, is in his 21st season with the NFL. He's been John Lynch's right-hand man since Lynch became San Francisco's GM in 2017. Peters is considered by many to be the most sought after front office man in the league, and has drawn interest from other teams with GM vacancies, including the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Cunningham, 38, is considered to be a rising star. He has been the Bears assistant GM for two years, and before that he was the Eagles director of player personnel. He played college football at UVA.
In a press conference Monday, Harris said his team — including sports executives Bob Myers and Rick Spielman — were looking to make separate hires for the front office and head coach positions, rather than have one person do both jobs.
“My orientation’s not to do that, but on the other hand, I’m going to really be somewhat flexible around talent,” Harris said. “Being the head of football operations, being in essence in that lead role, that’s an 80-hour a week job. Being a head coach, that’s an 80-hour a week job. I think there are two roles there.”
The team hopes to make a final decision soon before ramping up the search for a head coach. Harris promised the search process would be "thorough but rapid."
Once the head of football operations position is filled, all focus shifts to the head coach opening. The Commanders have requested interviews with a number of candidates for the position since Rivera was relieved of duties.
One head coach candidate that won't be on that list is former New England Patriots skipper Bill Belichick, according to sources in the Commanders organization. The Patriots parted ways with Belichick Thursday after 24 years.
There are eight head coach vacancies across the NFL, currently.