The Washington Commanders’ search for a new head coach may need to wait at least one more week. With the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens winning in this weekend’s divisional round, four of the reported eight candidates cannot hold a second interview this week as teams prepare for the conference championship games.
The Commanders interviewed Detroit’s coordinators (OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn), Baltimore’s defensive coordinator (Mike Macdonald), and associate head coach/defensive line (Anthony Weaver).
Washington can pursue second interviews with other candidates this week but will most certainly wait to speak to others, specifically Johnson, who is reportedly the Commanders’ top target.
While there is a long way to go before we know who Washington’s next coach will be, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network hinted at a name who could follow Johnson to his next destination as the offensive coordinator: Detroit offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
The Insiders on @NFLGameDay: #49ers WR Deebo Samuel is having a full battery of tests; #Lions DC Aaron Glenn is a top HC candidate; #Detroit OC Ben Johnson also has numerous requests. pic.twitter.com/YzC17s54WX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2024
Fraley, 46, has been Detroit’s offensive line coach since 2020. The Lions’ offensive line is considered one of the five best in the game. If Fraley followed Johnson to Washington or anywhere else, he would not call plays, as Johnson would likely continue to do that.
Fraley is from Gaithersburg, Maryland, and played collegiately at Robert Morris in Pennsylvania. He was undrafted in 2000 but enjoyed an 11-year playing career, including six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he started on the interior of the offensive line for Andy Reid. He would also play several seasons for the Browns.
He began his coaching career in 2012 at San Diego. He had his first NFL job with the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant offensive line coach in 2014. Fraley spent three seasons with the Vikings before going to UCLA as the offensive line coach in 2017. After one year in college, he came back to the NFL as Detroit’s assistant offensive line coach. He was promoted to his current position in 2020.
If the Commanders landed Johnson, Fraley would be an excellent choice to help rebuild Washington’s offensive line.
