Latest NFL coaching domino means Commanders are likely to keep key assistant coach on offense
The Commanders could end up keeping Assistant HC Brian Johnson on the staff after missing out on the Broncos’ offensive coordinator position.
The Washington Commanders have undergone many staffing changes this season, and more could happen with dominoes still falling around the league.
Assistant coaches usually shuffle around when a team hires a new coordinator. The Commanders have two, with David Blough taking over the offense, and Daronte Jones coming over from the Vikings to revive the defense. Blough was an in-house promotion who would probably like to keep some familiarity around, and a veteran coaching presence as a first-time offensive coordinator, and he might be in luck.
The Commanders are likely to keep Brian Johnson after missing the Broncos’ OC position
The Commanders got a lot younger on their staff, which was needed, but it could also lead to a rocky start for the offense. Blough is running an offense and calling plays for the first time in his career, and he brought over two young assistant coaches to help. D.J. Williams is the new QB coach in Washington, and he’s only coached for a few years. Danny Etling is the new assistant QB, and it’s his first coaching job ever.
Running game coordinator Anthony Lynn had several head coaching interviews this coaching cycle, but he’s likely to stay now as well. He wasn’t the only candidate receiving calls in Washington as assistant head coach and offensive passing game coordinator Brian Johnson interviewed for the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator position.
Losing Johnson would’ve hurt with the inexperienced staff taking over the offense, but the Broncos decided to stay in-house and promote Davis Webb as the offensive coordinator instead. Webb was a hot name this coaching cycle, who had real head coaching interest from multiple teams, and they didn’t want to lose him.
Why Brian Johnson is important to the staff
Head coach Dan Quinn is a defensive-minded coach, and Blough would have no one to lean on when things go south for the Commanders’ offense. Johnson has been coaching since 2010, and actually has offensive coordinator experience with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
He’s a great source for Blough when it comes to play calling and getting a feel for how the game is going until he gets more reps under his belt. The best-case scenario for the Commanders was keeping Johnson around, and their chances to do so drastically went up.