Washington Post (paywall)

Commanders go young, promote David Blough to be offensive coordinator

The 30-year-old is just three years removed from his final start as an NFL quarterback.

Washington had been expected to consider recently fired head coaches such as Mike McDaniel or Kevin Stefanski for the vacancy — or perhaps a current offensive coordinator who does not call plays, such as the Los Angeles Rams’ Mike LaFleur. McDaniel and LaFleur both coached on Quinn’s staff during his previous coaching stint in Atlanta.

Instead, the Commanders ultimately interviewed just two external candidates: Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells and Arizona Cardinals passing game coordinator Drew Terrell, who coached Washington’s wide receivers from 2020 to 2022. They also interviewed passing game coordinator Brian Johnson and tight ends coach David Raih, in addition to Blough. Wells and Terrell are both minority coaches, allowing the search to comply with the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview two non-White or female candidates who are not employed by the team for coordinator vacancies.

By promoting Blough, Quinn is leaving room for some schematic continuity, which would be sensible after the team’s wildly successful season with Kingsbury’s offensive scheme in 2024. But given Blough’s varied experiences as a player, there are sure to be new wrinkles and changes, too. It will be Blough’s first time calling offensive plays.

Quinn is also looking to hire a new defensive coordinator to replace Joe Whitt Jr., who was fired Tuesday. A person familiar with the matter confirmed the Commanders interviewed two candidates for the position Friday: Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Kansas City Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen.

Lions OC candidate David Blough off the board after taking Commanders job

It’s been a meteoric rise for Blough, who only retired from his NFL playing days after the 2023 season. Since then, he has been the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Commanders for the past two seasons. He also served as the interim quarterbacks coach for the final month of this past season after Tavita Pritchard left the position to become Stanford’s head coach. While rare, a quick rise up the ranks isn’t unheard of in the NFL. The most recent example is Kellen Moore, who retired from playing in 2017, became the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2018, and was their offensive coordinator in 2019. Five years later, he was hired to become the Saints’ head coach.

4 reasons Blough should be a legitimate candidate for Lions offensive coordinator

He’s in higher demand than you may think

Blough may only be two years into his coaching career, but the man has already drawn the interest of several teams. Last year alone, the Commanders had to block interview requests from the Jets (QB coach), Bears (pass game coordinator), and Jaguars (QB coach). Obviously, Aaron Glenn and Johnson chasing him is no surprise considering their shared time in Detroit, but Liam Coen was also interested, and he has no history with Blough. Word is getting around.

He’s already designed some very successful plays

While play-design is only a small part of the job of offensive coordinator, Blough has already been credited with pitching in for some critical plays at critical times. Here’s Commanders QB Jayden Daniels talking about this game-winning touchdown play in Week 16 against the Eagles (via Albert Breer):

“It set up perfectly,” Daniels says of Blough’s concept. “We did that same play in practice, same route, right behind the linebacker, in two-high coverage. That was my first read presnap from what I’ve seen—I’m going to go right here and trust in him to make a play.”

Remember the reverse flea-flicker the Lions pulled off against the Cowboys? That play was called “Boilermaker.” Why? Because Blough, a Purdue alumnus, brought it with him from college.

He’s already being tabbed as a future head coach candidate

While the Lions certainly wouldn’t want to have another successful offensive coordinator poached from them in the future, it speaks to Blough’s legitimacy that some believe he’s destined to be a head coach someday soon. David Aldridge, a Commanders columnist for The Athletic, had this to say about Blough:

“But it feels more likely that Quinn will go outside the building, though he’d love to keep assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough, who’s on the fast track to becoming a head coach sometime very soon.”

Blough also made The Athletic’s 2025 list of the NFL’s “50 under 40”— a list of rising young talents in the league at coaching and executive positions. Here’s what authors Jourdan Rodrigue and Mike Jones said about Blough:

“Kingsbury described Blough as ‘one of the brightest quarterbacks I’ve ever been around,”‘and praises his rapport with his players, his insight and communication skills. Blough received interest from Aaron Glenn and the Jets about their quarterbacks coach opening, but the Commanders blocked Blough from interviewing, viewing him as a valuable piece to their quarterback room and with potential to rise through the ranks of their organization.

Source: Commanders promote David Blough to offensive coordinator

Blough took over the quarterback coach duties after Tavita Pritchard, who held that role, was hired as Stanford’s head coach Nov. 28.

A former quarterback, Blough played five seasons in the NFL with four different organizations. He appeared in nine games, making seven starts.

Kingsbury often raved about Blough’s football acumen. He pointed to his experience in multiple systems, including under Ben Johnson in Detroit and Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota.

“He’s very bright, there’s no doubt,” Kingsbury said last month. “He’s been around some great offensive minds … so his biggest strengths are he sees it from the lens of the player and yet he can kind of separate and still be the coach.”

Blough developed a strong relationship with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels — the two would play a football version of H-O-R-S-E before practice each Friday.

But, Kingsbury said, Blough was demanding of the players. Kingsbury said that likely is because Blough “maximized who he was as a player.”

Blough’s playing career exposed him to multiple systems and play callers that he said shaped his offensive philosophy. He was with Darrell Bevell (in 2019 and 2020) and Anthony Lynn (2021), who is now the Commanders’ run game coordinator and running backs coach, during his first stint in Detroit. In 2022, Blough spent time with Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, where he was first exposed to the Sean McVay-style condensed splits, then learned Kingsbury’s up-tempo offense in Arizona later that year. He ended his playing days as a practice-squad quarterback with the Lions, with then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now the Bears’ head coach.

“One thing that people would say about me is I’m a journeyman,” Blough said in 2024. “What they don’t realize is the blessing of getting to play for so many different minds. So, now being here and trying to put as much of that together to help formulate the best thing we can, I think, has been really beneficial to me.”

Jeremy McNichols : Career year in 2025

McNichols rushed 44 times for 221 yards and a touchdown while catching 25 of 31 targets for 196 yards across 17 regular-season games in 2025. With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) sustaining a season-ending injury early into the Commanders’ 2025 campaign, McNichols was thrust into the role of the team’s primary pass-catching running back. The Boise State product performed well, recording a career-high 417 total yards while averaging 6.0 yards per touch. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, McNichols could draw interest from teams seeking a third-down back ahead of the 2026 season.

Inside Washington Commanders’ high-stakes reset in 2026

THE HARD DECISIONS began Tuesday with the change in coordinators.

Quinn and Kingsbury didn’t share the same offensive vision for the future, according to multiple team and league sources. According to multiple team sources, Quinn wanted a different offensive identity and spoke often with his staff of wanting a better run-pass balance.

If any philosophical issues existed last season, they were masked by winning. One team source said this season unmasked the divide. Washington ran the ball more down the stretch and finished the season ranked ninth in number of rushes, but it was 25th in carries by its backs. The Commanders were fifth and 19th, respectively, last season.

The speed with which Quinn moved on Kingsbury was noteworthy to some. The feeling among multiple team and league sources is that if Quinn doesn’t succeed in Washington, he will likely not get a third chance as a head coach. So, waiting until it’s too late to make a move was not an option. Quinn has said as much himself.

People who know the situation, and know Quinn well, said the risk would be in keeping the staff intact when Quinn and Kingsbury did not share the same vision. One team source said the goal is for the staff to be completely aligned — something several others said was not the case this season.

“You need to do what’s best for your organization. If you feel you need to change and then don’t? A year from now everyone’s fired,” said a source close to the situation.

Washington has six picks in this April’s draft, including the seventh overall selection. The Commanders also have approximately $90 million in cap space but only 36 players signed for next season. They can create $18.5 million in more space by releasing corner Marshon Lattimore, who tore an ACL in November.

They’ve built a strong offensive line, with only one current starter — left guard Chris Paul — a potential free agent. They have Daniels. They have McLaurin. They could use other contributors on offense, but they have a foundation. On defense, they have questions. One offensive assistant, whose team faced Washington in the second half of the season, said the only two players who truly caused concern were tackles Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw.

The Commanders are encouraged by second-year linebacker Jordan Magee’s growth and like how rookie corner Trey Amos played before breaking his leg in Week 10. But they have only two defensive linemen under 25 years old: Jer’Zhan Newton, a second-round pick in 2024; and Drake Jackson, a second-round pick in 2022 by San Francisco who saw limited time in 2025.

“There’s a lot of spots we can look at,” Peters said. “Certainly another pass rusher would be something we’d definitely be looking for. Whether that’s the draft or free agency, I think we have a lot of good options in both of those areas.”

Dan Quinn is betting his Commanders’ future on David Blough

It’s also a sign that Quinn is drawing on past experiences to make his decisions. He’ll no doubt remember Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel taking their chances elsewhere when he was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He clearly didn’t want the same thing to happen again with Blough, who has worked with respected offensive minds such as Ben Johnson and Kevin O’Connell in recent years.

Fans were expecting something bigger. McDaniel became their primary target after he left the Miami Dolphins, but it seems like he could be another head-coaching job quickly. Quinn didn’t want to drag out the process, and there is obvious conviction in the building that Blough can eventually become an upgrade.

He’s got no play-calling experience. Blough’s been around the game for a long time, but there is just no telling for sure how he’ll handle the pressure cooker. And with Quinn fighting to avoid speculation about his own future beyond 2026, it is a massive risk.

But sometimes, with massive risk comes massive reward.

His appointment also keeps some semblance of continuity around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Kingsbury and Pritchard are not around. Blough has worked with the LSU product for two seasons, so there is an already established relationship. There is a lot to be said for familiarity, but the play-caller will be under pressure to devise a scheme that maximizes his skill set while minimizing the risk of injury.

The Commanders didn’t want to lose an up-and-coming coach. Quinn knows what that feels like, and he was eager to see history not repeat itself. The stars aligned perfectly for Blough, but whether he’s up to the task remains to be seen.

6 takeaways from Commanders hiring offensive coordinator David Blough

Mike McDaniel was perfect fit but……

Again, Washington could not afford to wait on McDaniel. While McDaniel holds Quinn in high regard, he could be interviewing for multiple head coaching vacancies. He will interview with the Titans next week, and the Browns reportedly want to speak to him, too. He could also be a candidate with the Ravens and the Raiders.

With several other candidates on playoff teams, this could’ve dragged on for weeks. Quinn wisely chose not to wait.

There are some who are asking: “Why promote Kingsbury’s assistant to run his offense and not just keep Kingsbury?”

That’s not going to be the case here. Blough played for Ben Johnson, Kevin O’Connell and Kingsbury. Those are three of the NFL’s top offensive play-callers. Johnson and Kingsbury have both praised Blough for suggesting plays to attack specific coverages while he was a player. The idea here is that Blough can keep some of the components of Kingsbury’s fast-paced, no-huddle offense, blending with Johnson’s and O’Connell’s ability to have a power running game, use play action and have Daniels play under center more. Daniels under center could be lethal, especially with a dynamic running back behind him.

While it will be several months before we see Washington’s new-look offense, that’s the goal. Also, Johnson and O’Connell employ a zone blocking scheme, which should benefit the Commanders’ athletic offensive line. It will be interesting to see who Blough brings aboard as his offensive line coach.

Future NFL Hall of Famers London Fletcher & Bobby Wagner Get Their Flowers 💐 🫡 | Next Man Up

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator tracker: Names, rumors, newsJonathan Gannon (fired by the Cardinals), Jeff Ulbrich (former Falcons coordinator and Raheem Morris was fired there), and Mike Rutenberg (was also a part of Atlanta’s staff) were listed as names to watch by 105.3 The Fan’s Bobby Belt.Brian Flores (finished the season as the Vikings defensive coordinator but was in the final year of his contract) was noted as someone to watch by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.The Cowboys have requested permission to interview Minnesota defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Denver assistant HC/pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard and Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda according to Todd Archer.NY Giants 2025 free agent report card: Joe Schoen didn’t get what he paid for

The 2025 offseason brought yet another spending spree, as Joe Schoen tried to patch a weak secondary for then–defensive coordinator Shane Bowen — an effort that ultimately failed in year one.

Schoen also added veteran quarterbacks and front-seven pieces for the defense, and he took a jab at swing tackle. Some of these contracts worked out better in year one than others. Schoen also resigned WR Darius Slayton to a three-year, $36 million contract, and Slayton followed it up with his worst season as a Giant; the veteran receiver caught 37 of 60 passes for 538 yards with a touchdown and six drops, most in critical situations.

One year, $10.5-million, fully guaranteed

There is something unquantifiable about Wilson’s leadership with the young players on the team, but the end result of Wilson’s tenure as a Giant was a stain on both his and the Giants’ resumes. Wilson started three games and finished with 69 completions (58%) for 831 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions; 450 of those yards came against a terrible Matt Eberflus coached Dallas defense. Wilson also completed three passes against Chicago and one against the Chargers.

Wilson was later benched a second time in favor of Jameis Winston when Jaxson Dart was in the concussion protocol, and Winston moved the offense and provided an explosive element to the team. The offense was stagnant and unwatchable under Wilson, who operated the first-team offense all throughout training camp, effectively taking those snaps from Jaxson Dart and Winston. Luckily, it was a one-year deal; that, plus the Dallas game, prevented this from earning an F.

Two years, $12-million, $6-million guaranteed ($6-million AAV)

Hudson confused football with boxing throughout training camp. The tackle was constantly fighting the defense and getting into skirmishes. If he wasn’t fighting, he was committing false start penalties. This all culminated in Week 2 against Dallas, when Hudson committed four penalties on the first drive of the game and was benched for the day in favor of third-round rookie Marcus Mbow. The fact that Hudson III received one million dollars less than Jermaine Eleumunor one off-season later should be studied.

NFL playoff picks: Score predictions and matchup analysis for every Wild Card Round game

Why Tom picked the Eagles: Gennaro nailed it; this one is tough. In the end, I had to make a decision between what I want and what I think is right, which is really the dilemma at the heart of this cursed exercise every week. I wanted to pick the 49ers for a number of reasons, including Brock Purdy’s renewed swagger, Kyle Shanahan’s coaching acumen and, ultimately, because I just like them more. As far as defending champs go, the Eagles have been, let’s say, unconvincing. They’ve notched some recent solid wins against competitive teams, like low-scoring squeakers over the Bills (13-12 in Week 17), Lions (16-9 in Week 11) and Packers (10-7 in Week 10), and they’ve handled themselves against also-rans like the Commanders and Raiders, but there is exactly one victory over a fellow playoff contender in which they broke the 20-point mark: that wild 33-26 win over the Rams back in Week 3, which was, don’t forget, padded out by a freak return TD from a 336-pound nose tackle. Over the last nine games of the regular season, Philly ranked 22nd in the NFL in EPA per play on offense — that’s Panthers/Cardinals territory, folks. And much worse than the 49ers’ extremely appealing placement of third in the span, with Purdy returning from injury in Week 11. I don’t have much faith in the Eagles’ ability to move the ball, especially compared to the significantly livelier operation coming to town.

So why don’t I permit myself to enjoy life and ride with San Francisco? Well, it’s that pesky other side of the EPA-per-play equation — the defensive side. In that arena, Philadelphia has been dominant, finishing sixth in the NFL on the season, well above where the Niners sit, in 25th — that’s Giants/Cardinals territory, folks. The last time San Francisco faced an elite defensive squad with a ho-hum offense, one whole week ago, things played out just how the magical numbers whispered they would, in a narrow Seahawks victory. And that was in Santa Clara. This Sunday, on the East Coast, with the Niners’ injury report including crucial names like Trent Williams and Ricky Pearsall while the Eagles get healthier, I’ve got to obey the math spirits again.

Washington Post (paywall)

Home-field advantage isn’t what it seems in the first round of the NFL playoffs

In three of the six opening-round matchups, the road team had more wins than the home team, and collectively, the road teams had one more win during the regular season.

In four of the matchups, the road team is favored in most betting markets.

So, these shape up as competitive games, and no one should be particularly surprised if a few lower seeds advance.

In a season that had plenty of very good teams but no dominant ones, the playoffs appear to be more equal opportunity than usual.

Oregon-Indiana Is a Battle of Billionaire-Backed Rosters

Phil Knight has turned Oregon into a national powerhouse, while Mark Cuban recently started donating to IU athletics.

The College Football Playoff semifinal will feature two teams backed by their school’s wealthiest alumni, while ADs and coaches across the country try to find one of their own.
[S]ince NIL became legal in 2021, Knight, who graduated from UO in 1959 where he ran track and is worth more than $31 billion, according to Forbes, has raised his donations to another level. The Ducks’ team salary has been a source of intrigue in college sports the past few years. Oregon’s 2024 roster reportedly cost the Ducks $23 million, according to Washington’s AD.

Mark Cuban, meanwhile, had never donated to Indiana athletics before Curt Cignetti started coaching there in 2024.

The 1981 IU graduate, who is worth $6 billion, according to Forbes, had given millions of dollars over the years to initiatives such as a sports media technology center and the rugby club, but connected with Cignetti over their shared Pittsburgh roots.