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Commanders’ defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. opened up on Dan Quinn’s major playcalling decision
When it comes to being an NFL coach — and staying an NFL coach — it’s really good to have friends.
In the case of recently fired Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., it means finding a soft landing spot with another team and another former boss after he was hired as associate head coach/secondary coach by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the Steelers, Whitt will once again work for his former boss and new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who Whitt worked for on the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers when McCarthy was head coach at both places.
“The Steelers are hiring former Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. as assistant head coach/secondary coach, sources say,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on X on Wednesday. “Whitt, 47, spent 11 seasons on Mike McCarthy’s staff with the Packers. Now, they’re reunited in Pittsburgh.”
Whitt was stripped of defensive playcalling duties by head coach Dan Quinn on November 20 and fired on January 6 after the Commanders finished 5-12 and ranked dead last in the NFL in team defense, giving up an average of 384.0 yards per game.
The Commanders fired both of their coordinators following the season — both Whitt and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury were shown the door.
“The Steelers are hiring former Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as assistant head coach/secondary coach,” Steelers reporter Trey Carney wrote on X. “Whitt Jr. served as DC for Washington for the last two seasons. Whitt Jr. also was on McCarthy’s coaching staff in Green Bay from 2008-18 serving as defensive quality control coach, CBs coach, & pass game coordinator in his time there.”
Commanders Moved Quickly to Replace Whitt
The Commanders have a massive task facing them this offseason as the defense will almost need to be rebuilt from the ground up, which will likely start in free agency and continue with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The man they chose take on that task alongside Quinn is former Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones.
“Source: Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as their defensive coordinator,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on January 27. “Jones has been one of Brian Flores’ most trusted defensive coaches the past three seasons, and he also has coached under Vance Joseph and Mike Zimmer.”.
Commanders Coaching Staff: Dead Men Walking?
There’s a reason the Commanders ended up with Jones and not with one of their top choices like Raheem Morris or Jonathan Gannon.
Potential coordinator candidates need simply ask themselves one question: Do I want to take a job where there’s a chance I’ll be looking for another job one year from now? In Washington, that seems like a likely outcome.
“Sources: Part of the issue the Commanders have had in the building is the front office meddling with the coaching staff on personnel and which players to use — an ongoing problem dating back to 2024 when they were having success,” NFL insider Jordan Schulutz wrote on X on Wednesday, January 7. “With the team struggling this year, it reached new heights and there were notable disagreements. Moreover, I have not gotten the impression Dan Quinn wanted to move on from his coordinators. The entire disconnect is one to watch as we head into 2026. ‘There’s a lot of (expletive) going on there,’ a source said.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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