NFL’s Washington Commanders nabbing top USC defensive assistant

Eric Henderson, who already won a Super Bowl ring as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Rams and who was pursued during this most recent collegiate coaching cycle for defensive coordinator opportunities, instead is returning to the NFL.

Sources tell FootballScoop that Henderson is exiting his post in Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans program in order to join the Washington Commanders. Dan Quinn is Washington’s head coach, seeking to rebuild the Commanders who also are poised to move into a new Washington, D.C.,-area stadium in the coming years.

For Henderson, a former Georgia Tech player who’s coached extensively in both the collegiate and pro ranks, it’s a return to the professional game in a time in which USC is entering a must-win fifth season under Riley.

The Trojans have dramatically overhauled their staff in the weeks and months since they closed out their nine-win season that ended with a loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

Since that time, USC has seen former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn buy out his Trojans contract in order to return to his alma mater, Penn State, and serve as defensive coordinator in Matt Campbell’s inaugural era atop the Nittany Lions program.

USC hired Gary Patterson as its new defensive coordinator, plucking the just-minted College Football Hall of Famer out of retirement to help the Trojans.

Doug Belk also exited the program as USC’s popular secondary coach; Belk is evaluating both NFL and collegiate options, sources told FootballScoop on Wednesday.

One prominent name to watch as USC seeks to replace Henderson is ex-Texas Tech defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch. The Red Raiders defensive line coach the past four seasons, Fitch guided one of college football’s most disruptive fronts in a historic 2025 campaign at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders won the Big 12 Championship, finished the regular season undefeated and then advanced into the second-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

There, the Red Raiders — seeded No. 4 — lost to Big Ten program Oregon in the Orange Bowl to see their magical season halted.

Fitch on Wednesday confirmed to FootballScoop that he was not returning to Texas Tech. Sources told FootballScoop he is the frontrunner to replace Henderson at USC.

Henderson played in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, then transitioned into coaching after his playing career concluded He’s coached at the collegiate level with Texas-San Antonio, Oklahoma State and also coached in the NFL with the then-San Diego Chargers, now the Los Angeles Chargers.