The Washington Commanders have announced several new additions to its 2026 coaching staff, including a stripped title for Anthony Lynn.
In addition to promotions for a pair of former players in Wes Welker and William Gay, the Washington Commanders announced several other staff changes on Tuesday afternoon.
The most notable may be former head coach Anthony Lynn no longer serving as run game coordinator with the longtime coach entering 2026 as the team's running back coach, a title he's also held since he joined the organization in 2024. Lynn also drew a pair of interviews for head coaching vacancies this offseason, though quickly materialized into a long shot with both searches ending days after the reported interviews. New offensive coordinator David Blough expressed confidence in Jacory Croskey-Merritt coming off his rookie season, but also noted "there will definitely be acquisitions that take place" at the position this offseason.
Jesse Madden, the grandson of the late John Madden, joined the organization in 2025 as a quality control coach, but will now step in as assistant running backs coach behind Lynn in 2026. He joined the organization following his career at Michigan where he switched from quarterback to defensive back and becoming part of the 2024 national championship team.
Andre Coleman will now step in as assistant wide receivers and returners coach in 2026 after joining the organization in 2024 as an offensive assistant. After being a returner and receiver himself as a third round pick in 1994, Coleman played five seasons in the NFL before transitioning to coaching in 2010. He spent time as a tight ends and wide receivers coach at Kansas State, Youngstown State and Texas before making the jump to the NFL in 2024.
Shane Toub, son of Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator David Toub, will step in as the assistant offensive line coach under Darnell Stapleton, the team's new offensive line coach. Toub previously worked for the Chicago Bears and served as an offensive quality control coach the last three seasons.
George Banko will also step in as the new assistant linebackers coach in his third season with the organization. After initially expected to be retained as a defensive analyst under new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, Banko made the move to Washington and stepped into a defensive quality control role.
With William Gay stepping in as the new cornerbacks/defensive backs coach, he'll have a new coach alongside him with Tommy Donatell stepping in as defensive backs/safeties coach. He previously joined the organization after serving as the defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 in his third season with the team, while he drew his first NFL job with the Seattle Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach in 2017.
Longtime assistant John Pagano will now also serve as outside linebackers coach after spending the previous two seasons as a senior defensive assistant. Pagano has coached in the NFL since 1996 and previously served as a defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers from 2012 to 2016 where he guided Defensive Rookie of the Year Shawne Merriman to a strong defense.
Washington also announced both Eric Henderson and Darryl Tapp as the new defensive line and assistant defensive line coach, along with the DJ Williams hire as new quarterbacks coach. Wes Welker, meanwhile, was listed with an offensive analyst title as Bobby Engram remains the wide receiver coach in 2026.