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The Washington Commanders made some big changes to the coaching staff this offseason.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. were both let go, and David Blough and Daronte Jones were brought in, respectively. Neither Blough nor Jones has ever been a coordinator at the NFL level, but they do have some familiarity with each other.
Jones was with the Vikings on the defensive coaching staff from 2022 to 2025. In 2022, Blough was a practice squad quarterback for the Vikings. Recently, Washington insider JP Finlay spoke with Jones about this connection with Blough.
He was really sharp, smart," said Jones of Blough. "He ran the show. It was as smooth an operation as you could have because of his knowledge of the game."
Blough has rapidly moved up in the ranks since retiring from playing. The former quarterback was on the practice squad of the Detroit Lions in 2023 and joined Dan Quinn's staff in Washington in 2024 as the assistant quarterbacks coach.
Tavita Pritchard, who was the quarterbacks coach for the Commanders, took the head coaching job at Stanford, his alma mater. That, coupled with Kingsbury's departure, moved Blough up in the pecking order, and now he'll get his first shot at running an offense.
Jones, meanwhile, was the defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers in 2021 before joining the staff of the Vikings. Jones is a Maryland native, so his first shot at being a coordinator will also be a homecoming.
"You never know how your paths may cross," Jones explained. "You keep those relationships alive, and we had a great relationship when we were there. And now, years later, here we are."
The Commanders are certainly hoping for better results across the board in 2026. The team made a surprising run to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, but thanks to injuries and inconsistency, fell to 5-12 in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Daronte Jones on David Blough: 'Really sharp'
Continue reading...
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. were both let go, and David Blough and Daronte Jones were brought in, respectively. Neither Blough nor Jones has ever been a coordinator at the NFL level, but they do have some familiarity with each other.
Jones was with the Vikings on the defensive coaching staff from 2022 to 2025. In 2022, Blough was a practice squad quarterback for the Vikings. Recently, Washington insider JP Finlay spoke with Jones about this connection with Blough.
He was really sharp, smart," said Jones of Blough. "He ran the show. It was as smooth an operation as you could have because of his knowledge of the game."
Blough has rapidly moved up in the ranks since retiring from playing. The former quarterback was on the practice squad of the Detroit Lions in 2023 and joined Dan Quinn's staff in Washington in 2024 as the assistant quarterbacks coach.
Tavita Pritchard, who was the quarterbacks coach for the Commanders, took the head coaching job at Stanford, his alma mater. That, coupled with Kingsbury's departure, moved Blough up in the pecking order, and now he'll get his first shot at running an offense.
Jones, meanwhile, was the defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers in 2021 before joining the staff of the Vikings. Jones is a Maryland native, so his first shot at being a coordinator will also be a homecoming.
"You never know how your paths may cross," Jones explained. "You keep those relationships alive, and we had a great relationship when we were there. And now, years later, here we are."
The Commanders are certainly hoping for better results across the board in 2026. The team made a surprising run to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, but thanks to injuries and inconsistency, fell to 5-12 in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Daronte Jones on David Blough: 'Really sharp'
Continue reading...
