Tracking Washington’s assistant coach search
Managing partner Josh Harris introduced Adam Peters as the Washington Commanders new GM on Tuesday, January 9th, and he spent the rest of the month searching for his new head coach. That list was slimmed down to 4 candidates after the two youngest OCs on the list decided to stay with their current teams. Cowboys DC Dan Quinn has been hired as the Commanders next head coach, and he has assessed the previous coaching staff, and started to fill out his new staff. The offensive and defensive coordinator positions were filled yesterday by Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr respectively. And he’ll also have to decide if special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor can survive another change at head coach.
Quinn’s first reported hire for his coaching staff was former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury for offensive coordinator. Kingsbury spent last season at USC, working with this year’s expected 1st overall pick, QB Caleb Williams. Washington is expected to draft a QB, and there are three currently in the discussion for their #2 overall pick. Kingsbury will have a highly drafted QB, and last year’s starter, Sam Howell, to work with in his first year with Washington. He is reportedly working on filling his staff, but no names have been reported.
Dan Quinn’s second hire was one that was reported as likely as soon as he was linked to the Washington job. Dallas Cowboys pass game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. will follow Quinn to Washington, and run his defense here. Whitt was considered a candidate to replace Quinn in Dallas, but he chose to follow his boss. Dallas is reportedly interviewing former Commanders HC Ron Rivera for their open DC job.
Washington has been working to fill out their new coaching staff. They made several requests to the Dallas Cowboys after poaching two of their coaches. Dallas denied most of them, but did allow two of their defensive assistants to interview with Washington. The Commanders also made requests for assistants from the Raiders and Giants.
Washington reportedly made their first big hire under OC Kliff Kingsbury. The Commanders interviewed former Philadelphia Eagles OC Brian Johnson for their OC job, before going with Kingsbury. Johnson will still be joining Dan Quinn’s coach staff, but it will be in a “prominent offensive staff role” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. There has been speculation that he will be the QB coach and possibly have the pass game coordinator title.
Washington also signed former Las Vegas Raiders defensive pass-game coordinator Jason Simmons to the same role with the Commanders. He will also be the DBs coach, and will work with ne DC Joe Whitt Jr. who had that same job with Dan Quinn on the Dallas Cowboys. Washington’s secondary was a mess last year, and the only coach fired along with DC Jack Del Rio during the season was DBs coach Brent Vieselmeyer.
It was reported on Friday afternoon that Washington has hired their new special teams coordinator, replacing Nate Kaczor who has been with the team since 2019. Larry Izzo has been the Seattle Seahawks ST Coordinator since 2018, and has had some highly rated teams over the last few years.
Several coaches are reportedly not coming back to Dan Quinn’s new coaching staff. Randy Jordan to the RB coaching job with the Tennessee Titans. Run game coordinator Juan Castillo, OL coach Travelle Wharton, and TEs coach Todd Storm are also not returning. Ryan Kerrigan is returning to help coach the LBs/DL. Washington also made a hire for OL coach, but it’s raised a lot of questions. Bobby Johnson was fired by the Giants on Black Monday after his team allowed the second-most sacks in NFL history(85). Washington interviewed Texans assistant OL coach Cole Popovich, but have reportedly hired Johnson.
Dan Quinn added some more coaches to the defense, and Kliff Kingsbury brought in a former assistant. Washington has reportedly hired senior offensive assistant John Pagano and LBs coach Ken Norton Jr. Quinn and Norton coached together for the Seattle Seahawks during their Super Bowl runs. Ryan Kerrigan is also being retained, and will work closely with Norton.
Kingsbury brought in David Raih to coach tight ends. He was Kingsbury’s WRs coach in Arizona(2019-20) and was senior offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. QB coach Tavita Pritchard and WRs coach Bobby Engram are also being retained from Eric Bieniemy’s coaching staff.
It was reported that Jason Simmons would be the secondary coach and the defensive pass-game coordinator, Washington is hiring Tom Donatell to be the DBs coach. Simmons will be working closely with the 34-year old former Chargers assistant DBs coach.
Washington has another former NFL head coach on their new coaching staff. Anthony Lynn joins as the Commanders run-game coordinator. Adam Schefter reports that Washington tried to get Lynn last year when Ron Rivera was in charge, but Lynn now joins new GM Adam Peters in coming east from the San Francisco 49ers.
Stay tuned for the latest updates as they happen
Rumors and reported interest and interviews
Anthony Lynn hired as run-game coordinator:
A big move for Washington: Commanders are hiring 49ers assistant head coach Anthony Lynn as their run-game coordinator, per league source.
Commanders made a run at Lynn last year, but get him this year. Here’s one reason why: Lynn is close with HC Dan Quinn and GM Adam Peters. pic.twitter.com/Ei8W2H6Upo
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 14, 2024
Tom Donatell hired as the new DBs coach:
Tom Donatell is 34 years old. He started with the Seahawks and spent the last 3 seasons with the Chargers. His dad, Ed Donatell, coached in the NFL for 32 years. https://t.co/W7ntWsxblT
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) February 14, 2024
Bobby Engram stays on as the WRs coach:
The Commanders are keeping Bobby Engram as their WRs coach, per sources.
Like Tavita Pritchard, Engram was well-liked by players and did draw interest from other teams.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 13, 2024
Sharrif Floyd follows Dan Quinn to Washington:
The #Commanders are hiring #Cowboys assistant Sharrif Floyd as their assistant DL coach, as the former standout #Vikings DT continues to work his way up. Floyd was with Dan Quinn in Dallas.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2024
Washington hired Kliff Kingsbury’s former WRs coach David Raih as TEs coach:
Commanders hired former Buccaneers assistant coach David Raih as their tight ends coach, reuniting him with Kliff Kingsbury, whom he worked with in Arizona.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2024
Ken Norton Jr hired to coach LBs:
Former #Raiders and #Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. is joining the #Commanders as their linebackers coach, per sources.
A former All-Pro LB, Norton most recently coached the position at UCLA. Now he reunites with former Seattle colleague Dan Quinn in Washington. pic.twitter.com/ir2MYOgPCH
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2024
John Pagano joining the defensive coaching staff:
-Per league source:
former Chargers & Raiders defensive coordinator John Pagano will join the Washington Commanders staff.
Pagano, a former Broncos assistant under Vic Fangio, was a hot name this cycle, had multiple teams interested.@KOAColorado
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 12, 2024
Ryan Kerrigan is sticking around
Other staff moves, per sources:
* Ryan Kerrigan is back as assistant LBs/Pass Rush specialist
* TE coach Todd Storm, OL coaches Travelle Wharton and Juan Castillo are not expected to return
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 12, 2024
Bobby Johnson hired as OL coach:
Washington is hiring Bobby Johnson as the OL coach as @TomPelissero reported. Coached Buffalo OL from 2019-21 and NYG the last two years. Was fired after this past season. Has also coached TEs at various stops.
— John Keim (@john_keim) February 12, 2024
Johnson also interviewed for #Browns OL job… https://t.co/s4ecFMLy1q
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) February 12, 2024
Randy Jordan joins the Titans:
#Titans are hiring long-time Washington running backs coach Randy Jordan to the same position, per source. Jordan, who played nine years in the NFL, spent 11 seasons as a Commanders assistant.
Tennessee’s running game experience between OL coach Bill Callahan and Jordan.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 10, 2024
Larry Izzo replaces Nate Kaczor as special teams coordinator:
The Washington Commanders are hiring Larry Izzo as their special teams coordinator, per source.
* Seattle’s special teams coordinator since 2018
* 3-time SB champ as a player
* Grew up in NoVa (Ashburn’s Broad Run HS)— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 9, 2024
The #Commanders‘ new special-teams coordinator, Larry Izzo, was Seattle’s special-teams coordinator for the last three seasons.
The Seahawks’ ranking in special-teams DVOA for each season:
***2021 – No. 5
***2022 – No. 4
***2023 – No. 8Dan Quinn is slaying it with this staff.
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) February 9, 2024
Tavita Pritchard will stay as the QB coach:
More than a few teams had called about him. When Pritchard joined the staff last year, idea was to develop and eventually elevate. https://t.co/R9Me71uJPl
— John Keim (@john_keim) February 9, 2024
Head of Football Operations
49ers AGM Adam Peters – Hired as GM, 5-year contract
Washington Commanders Coaching Staff
Head Coach – Dan Quinn
Offensive Coordinator – Kliff Kingsbury
Offensive assistant(Title unkown) – Brian Johnson
QB Coach – Tavita Pritchard
Run-game coordinator – Anthony Lynn
OL Coach – Bobby Johnson
WRs coach – Bobby Engram
TEs coach: David Raih
Defensive Coordinator – Joe Whitt Jr
Defensive Pass-game Coordinator – Jason Simmons
DBs coach – Tom Donatell
Senior defensive assistant – John Pagano
LBs coach – Ken Norton Jr
Assistant LBs/Pass Rush specialist – Ryan Kerrigan
Assistant DL coach – Sharrif Floyd
Special teams coordinator- Larry Izzo
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