Commanders Conduct DC Interview With Dennard Wilson
The Commanders have filled one of their coordinator positions, promoting David Blough to serve as Kliff Kingsbury‘s successor. Attention will increasingly turn to the defensive coordinator gig. 
Washington moved on from Joe Whitt earlier this week in a move which came as little surprise. A DC change was foreshadowed when head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties midway through the season. The team has already interviewed Joe Cullen as a potential Whitt replacement, and another candidate has emerged.
The Commanders completed an interview today with Dennard Wilson, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Wilson is currently in place with the Titans as their defensive coordinator. Tennessee’s head coaching position is currently vacant, however, so there is a strong chance of substantial staff changes once a hire on that front winds up being made.
Wilson’s coaching career started at Maryland. After two years spent there as a graduate assistant, he entered the NFL as a scout. Over time, Wilson worked his way up the coaching ranks during stints with the Rams, Jets, Eagles and Ravens. The 43-year-old was an internal candidate for Philadelphia’s D-coordinator gig after the 2022 season, but after not receiving the role he spent one season in Baltimore. That was followed by his first coordinator opportunity coming about in Tennessee.
The Titans struggled in terms of scoring defense in 2024, but the team did rank second in yards allowed. Wilson and Co. were not able to duplicate that success this season, though. Tennessee finished 21st in total defense and 28th in points allowed. Those figures could hinder Wilson’s stock to a degree, and it was recently learned he will not receive an interview for the Titans’ full-time head coaching position.
In situations such as this one, departures are commonplace. A change of scenery could be coming soon for Wilson as a result, and it will be interesting to see if he emerges as a finalist with the Commanders in their search.
Commanders Promote David Blough To OC
David Blough began this past season as Washington’s assistant quarterbacks coach. Following the team’s surprising decision to dismiss Kliff Kingsbury, Blough will make a significant career jump.
The Commanders are promoting the recently retired QB to offensive coordinator, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. A report earlier Friday (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) indicated Washington did not want to lose Blough, but Detroit had shown OC interest. This represents a remarkable rise for a 30-year-old staffer whose playing career did not wrap until 2024.
Washington blocked Blough from interviewing to become the Jets’ QBs coach last year, keeping him as assistant QBs coach under Tavita Pritchard. Blough climbed to the QBs coach spot once Pritchard took the Stanford HC job in December. The Lions showing interest in bringing Blough back — as their OC — meant the Commanders needed to act, and Rapoport adds Detroit’s interest was real here. That explains the quick Washington promotion.
A backup for five NFL seasons, the former UDFA played under Ben Johnson and learned under Kingsbury. The Commanders hired Blough to Dan Quinn‘s staff in 2024. While fellow recently retired backup/30-year-old Davis Webb has drawn HC interest, Blough has beaten him to the coordinator level. Considering how successful the Commanders were with Kingsbury in 2024 — with Jayden Daniels healthy — this is still a borderline shocking development. Daniels had endorsed Kingsbury after the season, but his most recent position coach will instead be calling plays in 2026.
The Commanders interviewed Cardinals pass-game coordinator Drew Terrell for the OC job today, per Rapoport. The team also interviewed Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells on Thursday. Blough joined other internal staffers in being considered for the job, per NBC4 Sports’ JP Finlay. Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic identified tight ends coach David Raih and passing game coordinator/assistant head coach Brian Johnson as the two other internal candidates. This is a relatively quick hire, but Blough clearly impressed and/or was a threat to leave. Considering Johnson’s 2024 decision to spurn the Commanders to stay with the Lions, this could also represent a bit of payback from the NFC East team.
Quinn’s Falcons past also may have factored into this Blough call. Matt and Mike LaFleur followed Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco in 2017, and The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson indicates Quinn did not want to make a similar mistake with Blough. The Bears also showed interest in Blough during last year’s cycle, but the Commanders prioritized him.
This franchise has a recent history of going very young at OC. Blough does not top Sean McVay, who landed the job at 27 in 2014, but he is much lighter on coaching experience. Blough’s lack of coaching background makes this one of the most interesting OC hires in many years. After all, Blough was still playing in 2023. He spent the full season on the Lions’ practice squad. It seems clear Blough picked up a lot from future Washington HC candidate Johnson that year, but Blough also learned under the eventual Bears HC during Lions training camp in 2022.
A Browns UDFA in 2019, Blough made his way to Detroit that year via trade. Blough made five starts for the Lions in 2019, as a Matthew Stafford back injury sidelined the longtime starter, and stayed with the team through training camp in 2022. Blough received his walking papers before the ’22 season, as the Lions acquired Nate Sudfeld before Dan Campbell‘s second year. Blough ended up in Minnesota on Kevin O’Connell‘s practice squad.
While that was also assuredly an important learning experience in Blough’s development, the Cardinals poached him off the Vikings’ P-squad that December and gave him two starts following Kyler Murray‘s ACL tear. Blough lost both games to finish his career 0-7 and did not win a game as a pro starter, but the Purdue alum has made a fascinating climb up the coaching ladder. In taking over for Kingsbury in calling plays for a Daniels-led offense, it would certainly not shock to see Blough on a near-future HC carousel.
For now, the Commanders will hope they are right on another wunderkind OC. The team still needs to hire a defensive coordinator to replace Joe Whitt, but three days after the Kingsbury dismissal, Quinn’s most important assistant position is filled. How Blough fares will go a long way toward determining if Quinn can stick around in Washington long term.
Dan Quinn Also Differed On Philosophy With Kliff Kingsbury; Latest On Commanders’ DC Search
In addition to Kliff Kingsbury‘s differences with GM Adam Peters, it appears Dan Quinn also began to sour on his offensive coordinator. Although a report indicated Quinn was reluctant to fire his top staffers this week, some new reporting paints a different picture.
Kingsbury and Quinn carried philosophical differences that led to the dismissal, ESPN.com’s John Keim notes. While some around the league are confused by this firing, Keim indicates Quinn knowing he is unlikely to receive a third chance as an NFL head coach prompted him to act earlier than he did in Atlanta.
Quinn sought better balance on offense, preferring the Commanders run more. The surprise coming out of the Kingsbury firing stems from Washington ranking fifth on offense during Jayden Daniels‘ Offensive Rookie of the Year season leading to a separation after the following campaign. Washington ranked ninth in rushing attempts but 25th in carries by running backs. Daniels’ run-game abilities got him in some trouble this season — a three-injury slate involving just seven games — and Marcus Mariota also has been a career-long dual threat. It appears Quinn will want more RB work in 2026.
Washington traded Brian Robinson to San Francisco just before the season and lost veteran Austin Ekeler to a torn Achilles tendon after only two games, but seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt showed flashes of being an effective replacement. The Commanders ranked fourth in rushing by season end, committing to the ground game more down the stretch. Perhaps newly promoted OC David Blough‘s offensive philosophy will align more with Quinn’s preference to run more, as he should be able to continue the momentum with which the team ended the season.
Concerning the other side of the ball, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported today that Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen was interviewed today for Washington’s defensive coordinator position. Cullen has served as a coordinator three times at the collegiate level — twice at Richmond and once at Indiana — and once in the NFL. Before arriving in Kansas City to coach future Hall of Famer Chris Jones and company, Cullen spent a year with the Jaguars in Urban Meyer‘s doomed season with the team.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that Quinn may look back at his old employers to kick the tires on former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris for the DC job in Washington. Morris and his own DC in Atlanta, Jeff Ulbrich, are both being considered as worthy candidates for open jobs across the NFL landscape.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Lions To Interview Tee Martin, Jake Peetz For OC Role; Commanders Also Eyeing Martin
The Lions seemingly want to interview Mike McDaniel for their OC job, but they are starting the process with other names. Jake Peetz and Tee Martin are on the NFC North team’s interview list.
Peetz, the Seahawks’ pass-game coordinator, received an interview request from the Lions, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. He will meet with the team. Additionally, veteran insider Jordan Schultz mentions Ravens QBs coach Tee Martin will meet about the job. Martin will interview for both the Lions and Commanders‘ OC positions next week, per Schultz.
[RELATED: David Blough On Lions’ OC Radar]
This marks another trip on the coordinator carousel for Peetz, a former Rams staffer who interviewed for the Buccaneers’ OC job in 2024. The Seahawks ended up hiring Peetz after the Bucs gave their play-calling gig to Liam Coen. Peetz has played a role in Sam Darnold‘s solid season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba leading the NFL in receiving on his watch as well. Peetz, 40, was not with the Rams during Jared Goff‘s tenure. He coached under Sean McVay from 2022-23.
Still best known for leading Tennessee to the national championship as Peyton Manning‘s Volunteers successor in 1998, Martin has been an NFL staffer since 2021. He has only worked with the Ravens, who promoted him to QBs coach in 2023. Martin being in that role for back-to-back Lamar Jackson first-team All-Pro seasons certainly helps his case, though Baltimore is set to change coaching staffs for the first time since 2008 thanks to firing John Harbaugh. That leaves Martin in limbo.
This is not Martin’s first time on the OC carousel, however. The former Baltimore receivers coach met with the Bills in 2022 and Colts in 2023. Neither Peetz nor Martin (47) have called plays in the NFL. That will not be a prerequisite, per Lions GM Brad Holmes (via ESPN.com’s Eric Woodyard). Morton had not called plays in the NFL in eight years, but Dan Campbell took over that responsibility in Week 10 of this season before firing the assistant.
The Commanders interviewed Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells for their OC job Thursday. While John Morton struggled in Detroit, Martin will be interviewing to replace Kliff Kingsbury in Washington. The Commanders parted ways with their two-year OC due largely to disagreements between he and GM Adam Peters. Kingsbury, meanwhile, received an HC interview request from the Ravens.
Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore Arrested, Under Investigation For Weapon Violation
JANUARY 9: Lattimore will be hit with a charge of failing to disclose a concealed weapon, according to The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala. This a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. Lattimore will be subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy as a result of this arrest.
JANUARY 8: Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore was arrested in Ohio and is under investigation for a weapon violation, according to a report from Cleveland 19. The arrest occurred yesterday, according to ESPN’s John Keim.
Lattimore was taken into custody for carrying concealed weapons. He was later released pending further investigation.
According to the Cleveland 19 report, Lattimore was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for expired plates. He was subsequently arrested for “improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.” Police would not disclose the type of firearm that was in the player’s possession.
Lattimore was also arrested for a weapons charge in Cleveland in 2021. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge.
“We have been made aware of the arrest and are gathering more information,” the Commanders said in a statement. “We are in communication with the NFL League Office and have no further comment at this time.”
A 2017 first-round pick, Lattimore earned four Pro Bowl nods during his eight seasons with the Saints. He joined the Commanders midway through the 2024 campaign and has spent the past year-plus in Washington. He’s started each of his 11 appearances for the franchise, including nine this season. He landed on injured reserve in early November after suffering a torn ACL.
Commanders Interview Lunda Wells For OC Job
The Commanders have interviewed their first potential replacement for Kliff Kingsbury. ESPN’s Todd Archer reported earlier today that the organization had requested permission to interview Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells for their OC vacancy. ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that Wells completed an interview this evening for the job.
[RELATED: Commanders, Kliff Kingsbury Part Ways]
As Dan Quinn is tasked with rebuilding his coaching staff, he’s considering a familiar face to guide his offense. Wells served as the Cowboys TEs coach throughout Quinn’s three-year stint as the team’s defensive coordinator. Quinn actually pursued Wells two years ago to lead his offensive line, so the Commanders HC clearly thinks highly of the coach.
Wells had an eight-year stint with the Giants to begin his NFL coaching career, working his way up from an offensive quality control coach to tight ends coach. During his two seasons in that latter role, Evan Engram had two of the best yards-per-game showings of his career. Wells moved to the Cowboys in 2020, where he guided Dalton Schultz to his most productive NFL season before developing Jake Ferguson into a Pro Bowl-quality tight end.
Wells was also recruited by the Bears last offseason, so the 42-year-old has clearly been emerging as a popular name in coaching circuits. The Cowboys made an effort to retain him last offseason, including signing the coach to an extension. Now, he may have an opportunity to take that next step of his career with a division rival.
After being forced to move on from his offensive and defensive coordinator, Quinn also fired offensive line coach Bobby Johnson yesterday. The team kicked off their DC search by requesting an interview with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/26
Today saw four teams establish reserve/futures deals for next year:
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Dohnte Meyers
Minnesota Vikings
- DT Jaylon Hutchings, LB Jacob Roberts
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Milo Eifler
Washington Commanders
Commanders Fire O-Line Coach; Dan Quinn Disagreed With Coordinator Firings?
A year after a surprise NFC championship game appearance, the Commanders moved on from both their coordinators. This follows a 5-12 season in which Jayden Daniels suffered three injuries that limited him to just seven games in total.
More fallout from the firings has emerged. For starters, the Commanders have fired offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Nicki Jhabvala report. Johnson was a Dan Quinn hire upon arrival. He had coached the Giants’ O-line during Brian Daboll‘s first two seasons.
This marks the second time in three years Johnson has been fired. The Giants let him go following the 2023 season. Johnson had served as the Bills’ O-line coach from 2019-21 before following Daboll to the Big Apple. Johnson had not worked with Quinn or Kliff Kingsbury previously.
Kingsbury represented the biggest domino to fall Tuesday, as he had drawn extensive head coaching interest last year and had popped up as a candidate again — even after a down Commanders season. While demoted DC Joe Whitt was viewed as on the way out, Kingsbury brought a surprise. But a report over the weekend indicated Kingsbury and GM Adam Peters were not seeing eye-to-eye. Soon after, Kingsbury is a coaching free agent despite one season remaining on his contract.
The Commanders had lured Kingsbury away from his 2024 Raiders commitment, dangling a third year the former Cardinals HC coveted. The Raiders had only offered a two-year deal. Kingsbury, 46, figures to be in demand moving forward. This dismissal reportedly came against the objections of Daniels and other offensive players, and it does not appear to be the first instance of the Washington front office disagreeing with the coaching staff.
Quinn did not seem overly interested in firing his coordinators, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz, who adds front office meddling with Quinn’s staff is believed to be an issue for the franchise. The issue extends to the front office giving instructions on which players to use, per Schultz. It is not uncommon for GMs to have preferences on how players are utilized; after all, they do generally have roster control. But conflict between front offices and staffs on this level is certainly something to monitor, as Schultz adds there were “notable disagreements” during a 5-12 season on this front.
This disconnect will obviously be a storyline to monitor. Peters did not have Quinn as his first choice. The Commanders were moving toward a Ben Johnson hire in 2024. Like the Raiders in 2025, however, Johnson’s wishes did not align with this plan. Quinn became a safe choice after three solid seasons as Dallas’ DC, and he guided Washington to road wins over the Buccaneers and No. 1-seeded Lions — Johnson’s Detroit finale — in last season’s playoffs. Injuries to Daniels and Terry McLaurin significantly impacted this year’s Commanders edition.
Considering this report, it will be interesting to see if rumblings about a Quinn departure emerge in the near future. Otherwise, it would seem the second-chance HC will enter the season on a hot seat. Coordinator firings regularly precede a head coach’s seat warming, and it should be safe to assume that is the case in Washington heading into the offseason.
Commanders Request To Interview Raiders’ Patrick Graham For Defensive Coordinator Job
One day after the Commanders fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, the first candidate to take over the role has emerged. The Commanders have requested an interview with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
It appears the Raiders will grant the Commanders’ request. Washington plans to discuss the job with Graham on “Friday or Saturday,” a league source told Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
Graham, a Yale alumnus, began his NFL coaching career as an assistant on Bill Belichick‘s staff in New England in 2009. He remained on Belichick’s staff and held multiple roles through 2015. After dividing the next three seasons between the Giants and Packers, he became a first-time defensive coordinator with the Dolphins in 2019.
Brian Flores, another former Belichick assistant, was the Dolphins’ head coach in Graham’s lone season in Miami. The Dolphins’ defense finished last in the NFL in scoring and 30th in yardage, but Graham still earned a promotion during the ensuing offseason.
Graham left South Florida to work for another ex-Patriots staffer, then-Giants head coach Joe Judge, who hired Graham as an assistant HC and D-coordinator. The Giants ranked ninth in scoring and 12th in yards in 2020, but the unit fell to 23rd and 21st, respectively, the next season. The Giants fired Judge afterward.
Although his run with the Giants didn’t go as planned, Graham quickly landed on his feet as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator. He initially coached under Josh McDaniels, yet another Belichick disciple. McDaniels lost his job during the 2023 campaign, but Graham remained in his post under Antonio Pierce and then Pete Carroll. The Raiders had a top 10 scoring defense in ’23, but they’ve otherwise ranked 25th or worse under Graham. However, they finished either 14th or 15th in yards in each of the past three seasons.
Carroll is now out after one year as the Raiders’ head coach, leaving Graham and the team’s other assistants in limbo. With that in mind, the 46-year-old Graham may jump at the chance to lead the Commanders’ defense if head coach Dan Quinn offers him the position.
Commanders, Kliff Kingsbury Part Ways
A weekend report indicated Kliff Kingsbury would not be a lock to return as Commanders OC. Despite his offense helping Jayden Daniels to Offensive Rookie of the Year acclaim in 2024, Kingsbury is indeed out in Washington.
The sides are parting ways, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero classifying it as a mutual decision. After the Commanders pried Kingsbury from the Raiders’ grasp in 2024, the former Cardinals HC will be a coaching free agent again. Multiple OC options are set to present themselves, with Pelissero adding Kingsbury is drawing HC interest as well.
[RELATED: Commanders Fire DC Joe Whitt]
The weekend offering from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated Kingsbury and GM Adam Peters were not seeing eye-to-eye. This separation will stand to make Kingsbury a coveted OC option, and it will be interesting to see which teams reach out regarding head coaching interviews. While this gives Kingsbury more options, the Commanders will now throw Daniels into a new offense.
This separation comes after a Kingsbury meeting with Dan Quinn, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds it comes after Daniels gave his OC a strong endorsement. Other members of Washington’s offense were “blindsided” by the move, per insider Jordan Schultz, who adds key players on offense are disappointed in this decision.
Daniels dazzled as a rookie, separating from a deep QB class. Daniels’ breakout season booked the Commanders into the NFC championship game for the first time in 33 years. The former Heisman winner’s sophomore NFL slate, however, became an injury-riddled slog. Daniels suffered three injuries and played in only seven games. In those seven games, his completion percentage cratered compared to his rookie year — from 69.0 to 60.6 — and his yards per attempt dropped to 6.7.
Still, Kingsbury was viewed as a high-end HC commodity last year — even on a market that included Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson. The resurgent staffer opted to stay with Washington, preferring his place coaching Daniels. It is difficult to say Kingsbury’s stock has dropped too far. The Titans are interested in meeting with him to discuss their HC position; an interview request is expected. Kingsbury, 46, will now be free to meet about that job in-person at any time. The Giants have also expressed interest, likely giving a dismissed coordinator at least two HC interview opportunities.
While Matt Nagy resides as a likely frontrunner to reunite with Mike Borgonzi in Tennessee, Kingsbury also brings second-chance HC appeal as a coach who has helped two quarterbacks to Pro Bowls. Although Kyler Murray struggled in 2022, Kingsbury guiding the Cardinals’ dual-threat option to first-ballot Pro Bowls in 2020 and ’21 has aged well given the passer’s mid-2020s standing. Daniels gliding to Rookie of the Year honors on Kingsbury’s watch also bolsters the coach’s prospects to land on his feet — especially on a market thin on offensive-minded HC candidates.
It certainly should not be considered a lock Kingsbury receives another HC opportunity during this cycle, but with six vacancies and limited options for OC types, he could be the ultra-rare coordinator to be let go and land a top coaching job.
Kingsbury does have a history of unusual coaching transitions. Texas Tech fired him after the 2018 season, leading him to USC as the planned Trojans OC. But the Cardinals instead hired the ex-Patrick Mahomes college mentor as their head coach. Kingsbury went 28-37-1 in four Arizona seasons, guiding the team to the playoffs in 2021 but finishing 4-13 in 2022.
That led the Cards to fire him despite authorizing an extension months earlier. Kingsbury coached QBs at USC in 2023, allowing him to tutor Caleb Williams that season. Kingsbury then came close to a Raiders OC agreement in 2024, but after Las Vegas only offered a two-year deal, Washington’s three-year offer convinced him to back out of negotiations with the AFC West team.
Washington should see no shortage of interested candidates for its OC position, and after a 5-12 showing, Quinn needs to tab a quality option. The Commanders’ largely Daniels-less season brought a 27th-place finish in scoring and last-place ranking in yardage. The season also featured Terry McLaurin missing extensive time. Washington’s 2025 rankings figure to ding Kingsbury, but his previous work will certainly appeal to teams.