The Washington Commanders are still on the hunt for a defensive coordinator, and the clock is ticking. After parting ways with Joe Whitt Jr. at the end of the season, two familiar names quickly surfaced as potential replacements: former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Both have deep roots with Washington’s new head coach Dan Quinn, having served under him during previous coaching stops.
But one of those options is now off the table. Jeff Ulbrich isn’t going anywhere-Atlanta’s new head coach Kevin Stefanski made sure of that, keeping Ulbrich in place and denying all interview requests from other teams. That leaves Morris still in play, at least for now.
Here’s the catch: Morris has been a busy man this offseason. He’s interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs and could still land one.
And if that doesn’t pan out, there’s buzz he might take a breather from the sideline altogether and explore opportunities in television. In short, Morris has options-and plenty of them.
So where does that leave Washington?
The Commanders have already interviewed seven candidates for the defensive coordinator role, but Morris hasn’t been one of them. That might seem odd on the surface, especially given his long-standing relationship with Quinn, but it’s not necessarily a red flag.
The two go way back, and it’s possible they’ve agreed to hold off on formal talks until the head coaching carousel slows down. Or maybe Morris has already told Quinn he’s not interested in a coordinator gig this year.
Either way, the door isn’t closed just yet.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, Morris still sits atop Washington’s wish list. Speaking on The Kevin Sheehan Show this week, Keim noted the obvious connection between Quinn and Morris, saying, “I think Raheem would be at that top, cause there’s a familiarity, clearly Quinn trusts him and, you know, he’s worked with him.”
Keim also made a key point: familiarity is fine, but it shouldn’t be the only reason for a hire. “You want to make sure it’s about more than that,” he said.
And he’s right. This is a critical hire for Quinn, who’s already made a bold move by promoting David Blough to offensive coordinator.
If he swings and misses on the defensive side, it could derail what Washington is trying to build.
Morris isn’t a schematic mastermind in the mold of a Brian Flores or Jim Schwartz. That’s not his calling card.
What he brings to the table is leadership-he’s a connector, a motivator, a coach players rally around. He’s more of a CEO on the defensive side, and that might be exactly what Quinn is looking for as he sets the tone in his first year at the helm in Washington.
But let’s be clear: whoever gets the job is going to need more than just a whistle and a whiteboard. The Commanders’ defense has to take a serious step forward in 2026.
That doesn’t mean they need to be a top-10 unit overnight, but they have to be functional-get off the field on third downs, generate some takeaways, and bring consistent pressure on the quarterback. The basics.
The stuff that wins games.
And it’s not just about coaching. Washington’s front office has work to do.
They’ll need to be aggressive in free agency and smart with their draft capital-especially that No. 7 overall pick in April. This defense needs talent.
Scheme and leadership matter, but players make plays, and right now, Washington needs more of them.
As for Morris, he might be the safest choice left on the board. He’s got the experience, the leadership chops, and the trust of the head coach.
After a bold offensive hire, Quinn might opt for stability on the defensive side. But whatever direction he goes, one thing’s for sure-he can’t afford to miss.