Redskins Coaching News: Dan Snyder really wants Mike Tomlin; HC search won’t start until after the season

Earlier this morning Jason La Canfora published a story reporting on Dan Snyder’s strong interest in having Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin take the same job with the Redskins next season. Tomlin has coached the Steelers since 2007 and has a 126-70-1 regular season record. He is 8-7 in the postseason, and is 1-1 in the Super Bowl. Last season was the first time his team has had under 10 wins since 2013. He signed a 1-year contract extension this year that keeps him in Pittsburgh through the 2021 season.

Why is Snyder interested in Tomlin?:

Snyder, who has long been a fan of Tomlin, has gotten to know the Super Bowl-winning coach more personally over the years, at league meetings and through several mutual friends and peers, and would be willing to give Tomlin a top-of-the-market salary and full authority over the organization, the sources said. He views Tomlin as the kind of coach, leader and face-of-the-franchise Washington sorely lacks -- the perfect point person with the media and sponsors and to help efforts to get a stadium built in downtown Washington, DC.

How does Bruce Allen play into this scenario(because he is always involved)?:

Tomlin has an excellent coaching record, is a member of the prestigious Competition Committee, is one of the game’s great orators and already has relationships with key members of the organization like team president Bruce Allen and general manager Doug Williams from their time in Tampa. Snyder believes Tomlin could help restore faith in the fans and kick-start the team’s sagging business operations as well.

Why would Mike Tomlin be interested in a chance of scenery?:

Some sources who know Tomlin well believe the opportunity in Washington could appeal to him on many levels. The team holds training camp in Richmond, Virginia, not far from Newport News where he grew up, and Tomlin has a son playing at the nearby University of Maryland. Tomlin, very loyal to his assistants, could get a bigger budget for them all in Washington as well. Of course, Tomlin also knows how even the best coaches to have come through Washington under Snyder have suffered, how the team has failed to sustain even a modicum of success under this owner, and how the Rooneys’ model in Pittsburgh has helped make the team an almost annual contender for a title.

Who else is Snyder interested in?:

Snyder also would have interest in Tampa defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, sources said, if securing Tomlin is not possible. He met personally with Bowles last season for a potential defensive coordinator job after he was fired as head coach of the Jets. Gibbs, who is still close with the owner, has urged him to hire Bowles, a former standout defensive back in Washington, as well. Snyder also has maintained ties with Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was a defensive coordinator in Washington and has been a head coach with Buffalo and Cleveland (as a successful interim last year).

Adam Schefter also got into some Redskins coaching news this morning. He reports that the Redskins won’t start a full coaching search until after the season. The plan as of right now is to let Bill Callahan coach the rest of the season, and evaluate the entire staff. Bill Callahan is a Bruce Allen guy, so will be given his shot to prove he can turn this sinking ship into a floating turd. Offensive Coordinator Kevin O’Connell will also be evaluated, and it has been previously reported that the Redskins will give him consideration for the top coaching job.

Schefter also mentions that former Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden is likely to take the rest of this season off and get paid by Dan Snyder. He is likely to join his brother Jon Gruden’s staff with the Las Vegas Raiders next season. Schefter points out the the Raiders don’t currently have a QB coach, and Jay Gruden could slide right into that assistant position.