Based on how Josh Harris has operated previously with the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers, I think it’s safe to say we can expect the following outline:

1/8/23 - 1/9/23:

Ron Rivera & Martin Mayhew will be relieved of their duties, however, it will be phrased as a respectful parting of ways. This will be similar to how the New York Giants took a classy route to how they separated from Dave Gettleman. They will each release a written statement but Ron Rivera will likely hold a final press conference - akin to what happened after Ron Rivera was fired from Carolina in 2019.

New ownership will release a written statement as well where they thank both for their contributions and speak positively on how Ron Rivera left a great culture. This will partially be out of respect for all of the unusual challenges Rivera dealt with since he was hired such as:

• Cancer
• Dan Snyder distractions in media
• Dan Snyder doing minimum actions to improve facilities and stadium conditions
• Dan Snyder financially strapping free agency & extension opportunities
• Ownership change

Martin Mayhew will receive his own special acknowledgments due to him holding the distinction of being an alumni from the 1991 Super Bowl winning team.

1/10/23 - 1/12/23:

New ownership, led by Josh Harris, will hold their first end-of-season press conference with local media. During this press conference they’ll speak about what they’re looking for in a General Manager and the power that individual will have in hiring a new Head Coach - including the possibility of retaining and promoting Eric Bieniemy who’s technically still under contract for the 2024 season. We will receive updates on priorities such as improvements to FedEx Field, the practice facility in Ashburn, and their feelings on where the team is competitively.

1/27/23 - 1/29/23:

Based on how the hiring cycle usually works, I’d anticipate by this date we have an announcement on the new General Manager. In theory, this General Manager would work in tandem with Eugene Shen (Senior Vice President of Football Strategy) in shaping the scouting, personnel, and football operations side of things to fit Josh Harris’ style and vision. The top contenders for General Manager could be the following candidates based on a blend of their organizational backgrounds, current team success, and adoption of analytics:

• Andy Weidl, Assistant General Manager for Pittsburgh Steelers
• Adam Peters, Assistant General Manager for San Francisco 49ers
• Dave Caldwell, Senior Personnel Director, Philadelphia Eagles

2/2/23 - 2/16/23:

If the new General Manager doesn’t quickly decide they want to simply promote Eric Bieniemy, we likely have a process that could drag into the week immediately following the Super Bowl. While there’s likely a large list of potential candidates with varying preferences from the eventual General Manager, I’d assume a list universally includes the following candidates for heavy consideration:

• Eric Bieniemy, Assistant HC/OC for Washington Commanders
• Ben Johnson, OC for Detroit Lions

Eric Bieniemy makes sense as he’s already installed his offense with Sam Howell and Washington’s offensive players. This is especially true if Sam Howell and Eric Bieniemy legitimately have a good working relationship. If the offense and Sam Howell improves - it makes sense to see what their next level could be with another year in the same system and playbook but better defensive coaching and roster construction. Another thing that benefits Eric Bieniemy is his overlapping coaching tree history with Ron Rivera, which could help maintain certain consistencies with coaching assistants. While the defense would likely still undergo a massive overhaul with a new Defensive Coordinator, Bieniemy would be more likely to replace “poor” performers that don’t fit his vision which could be an easier transition for current players.

Ben Johnson is likely the hottest name for Head Coaching vacancies but makes a lot of sense for Washington. During the Senior Bowl, where Sam Howell had a chance to be coached by Ben Johnson, Howell said "He’s a great teacher. He just knows how to relate to people. He knows how to best get a message across, (he) teaches in a way that everyone can understand.” Washington could have an advantage due to Johnson’s familiarity with Howell, Howell’s proven tape as a starting QB, and the overall situation under new ownership. Also, Ben Johnson was a walk-on QB at UNC during his time there - which makes it very likely he’s kept tabs on Sam Howell’s career since 2019 when he served as the UNC starting QB.