Carolina Panthers assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici is expected to interview for the Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach vacancy
While all the attention has shifted to who the defensive coordinator will be for the Washington Commanders in 2026 with news that former head coach Jonathan Gannon expected to interview, the first name has emerged as a candidate to join the offensive staff under newly announced offensive coordinator David Blough.
Washington has reportedly requested to interview Panthers assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici for its quarterbacks coach position.
Bercovici, 32, is in his sixth season coaching in the NFL and seventh overall following his playing career.
Like Blough, Bercovici also served as an assistant quarterbacks coach while also serving as the Carolina Panthers pass game specialist this past season. He joined the organization in 2023 under former head coach Frank Reich's staff before being promoted ahead of the 2025 season, helping Bryce Young post his best season yet after posting 3,011 passing yards, 23 touchdowns while completing 63.6% of his passes - all career-highs. He worked with the wide receivers in 2023 and quarterbacks in 2024 prior to his latest promotion.
After starting his coaching career as a grad assistant as his alma mater, Arizona State, Bercovici made the jump to the NFL in 2020 where he served as a coaching assistant under then-head coach and former Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Bercovici also played at Arizona State where he became the full time starter as a senior under Todd Graham before becoming an undrafted free agent signing with the San Diego Chargers in 2016. He was then cut just prior to the start of the regular season before being signed to a reserve/future contract for 2016 then signing with the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad in 2017. He closed out his career with the San Diego Fleet in the Alliance of American Football in 2019 before transitioning to coaching.
But it's his time as a coach with the Sun Devils that may be the clearest indicator as to why the Commanders are a fit in 2026. During his lone season coaching at Arizona State, Bercovici worked with now Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels where he blossomed into one of the nation's top freshman quarterbacks.
“It wasn’t that long ago that he was in our position so he definitely knows what we’re going through, good and bad," Jayden Daniels said of Bercovici back in 2019. "He has been through it all so we trust what he tells us. We got along right away.”
While Blough has built a close rapport with Daniels during his first two seasons with the organization to give the franchise quarterback familiarity and comfort ahead of year three, Bercovici adds to that as the revamped offensive staff looks to overcome inexperience questions. But Bercovici's impact with Daniels was clear at the time.
"He's been a tremendous help," then-Sun Devils offensive coordinator Rob Likens said of Bercovici. "He does a tremendous job, and the more he does, the more I trust him, the more I give him. He does a great job with him especially with his feet in the pocket. He's been several places in the NFL and with Philip Rivers, learning some things from him and the drills they did he's brought here. I've learned a lot of stuff from him too."