The Commanders moved fast on David Blough. Now comes the waiting game
Inside Washington's coaching staff build as defensive coordinator candidates trickle through Ashburn.
The Washington Commanders’ 2026 coaching staff is coming together. The final picture, however, may take longer to emerge.
Hiring David Blough as offensive coordinator last week surprised many because the 30-year-old has never been a position coach, let alone built an entire offensive scheme. The speed of the move — just three days after Kliff Kingsbury’s exit — added to the surprise. Boldly choosing Blough sent ripples through the staff’s future makeup. The same may occur once a defensive coordinator is hired.
There are current openings at offensive line, quarterbacks, and assistant quarterbacks coach. More movement is expected, particularly if the defensive coordinator installs a new system.
The Playbook:
Potential internal changes
Defensive coordinator frontrunners
Offensive staff names to watch
Upcoming interviews
Potential departures to monitor
Brian Johnson — passing game coordinator/assistant head coach
It’s understandable if Johnson, who interviewed for the offensive coordinator role, feels jilted by Blough’s hire. The former Eagles offensive coordinator was viewed internally as a viable replacement if Kingsbury departed. That belief only strengthened after quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard left in December to become Stanford’s head coach.
Beyond weekly game-planning duties, Johnson — once a head-coaching candidate in Philadelphia — shadowed Washington head coach Dan Quinn to learn all aspects of the job. His presence also added important coaching depth in the quarterback room.
