The Washington Redskins will likely have a difficult time attracting top head coaching candidates this offseason given the current state of their franchise, but that is not going to stop them from swinging for the fences.
David Shaw is one name from the college coaching ranks that comes up every offseason with NFL head coaching vacancies, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Redskins are expected to pursue him. The Carolina Panthers and other NFL teams also have interest, however, so the chances of him landing in Washington probably aren’t great.
The Redskins would prefer to make a splashy hire, but few reputable candidates will want the job given how things have gone for the team in recent years. Shaw has experience as an assistant coach in the NFL but never a head coach, and it would be incredibly risky to attach himself to Washington in his first gig.
Shaw is in his ninth season as the head coach at Stanford, and the Cardinal have had a rough year. Their 4-8 record is by far the worst mark the team has had since Shaw took over in 2011, but his overall record of 86-34 is still impressive. This is the first year Shaw has not led Stanford to a bowl game.
NFL teams have had interest in Shaw for years, so one bad season at Stanford will not deter them. An opportunity will likely available if he decides he wants to coach at the professional level, though we doubt Washington is where Shaw will want to be.
