Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Scott Turner will interview with Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera for the team’s vacant offensive coordinator position Friday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Kevin O’Connell, who served as the Redskins offensive coordinator, is still considered the favorite, but Turner could potentially end up as the Redskins quarterbacks coach, Rapoport adds.
Turner was also the Panthers quarterbacks coach in 2018 and 2019. He began his coaching career as graduate assistant at Oregon State after completing his collegiate playing career at UNLV.
His first NFL position came in 2011 with the Panthers as their offensive quality control coordinator. He was a wide receivers coach with the Browns in 2013 when his father, former Redskins head coach Norv Turner, was the Browns offensive coordinator. He was also the Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach from 2014-2016.
Turner impressed last year with his ability to keep the Panthers offense afloat in the absence of quarterback Cam Newton. Turner was instrumental in the development of Kyle Allen.
Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins has lobbied for O’Connell to remain with the team. Many fans have expressed their liking to O’Connell, who was just as impressive as Turner with a rookie quarterback and trio of rookie wide receivers.
O’Connell interviewed with Rivera earlier this week in what was described as a “two-way interview.”
O’Connell is “still working things out” with Rivera, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
O’Connell is surely no lock to return, as he has value throughout the league. Teams are expected to line up if he is made available. However, the Redskins brass would certainly not want to lose another solid young offensive mind. Especially, after the team has lost Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur and Sean McVay. Each became NFL head coaches elsewhere.
