Several coaches, including on defense, are not expected to return to the Washington Commanders in 2026
The shakeup along the Washington Commanders coaching staff continues.
News broke on Saturday that several defensive coaches are expected to depart with assistant linebackers coach Ryan Kerrigan, assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd and player development coach Pete Ohnegian all expected to depart the organization. Defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons, who is reported to take a “prominent” role elsewhere, was also reported as another not expected to return to Washington in 2026.
It marks the latest shakeup for head coach Dan Quinn with now both coordinator roles filled earlier this week. While assistant Anthony Lynn materialized into a head coaching candidate for two teams, whether another departure on the offensive side of the ball materializes after passing game coordinator Brian Johnson drew an offensive coordinator interview. JP Finlay of NBC also noted more changes could be on the way with still much undecided in the positions under both David Blough and Daronte Jones.
Kerrigan marks the most notable name, naturally, given he remains the team’s all-time sack leader and spent ten seasons with the organization after becoming the team’s first round pick with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. After one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in his final season playing, Kerrigan returned to Washington as a coach in 2022 where he began as assistant defensive line coach for the final two seasons of the Ron Rivera era before moving to assistant linebackers coach and pass rush specialist for the start of the Dan Quinn era.
Floyd, a former first round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, joined the Commanders staff after making the jump into an NFL coaching role with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 under Dan Quinn, spending one season as assistant defensive line and defensive quality control coach. Floyd joined Washington as assistant defensive line coach in 2024.
Similar to Floyd, Ohnegian wrapped up his second season with the organization after following Dan Quinn from Dallas where he previously served as a defensive quality control coach, mainly working with the linebackers while overseeing the defensive development. He previously served as a strength and conditioning coach, first as an intern at Army before moving onto William Patterson High School in New Jersey.
Washington has reportedly filled four positions under the coordinators so far this offseason with DJ Williams and Danny Etling joining as quarterbacks and assistant quarterbacks coach, while the team made a pair of internal moves to fill the offensive line and assistant offensive line coaching positions in 2026.
Washington is coming off a 2025 season where they graded as one of the worst across the NFL. ESPN's John Keim reported this week that one coach who faced the Commanders called the defense the "easiest" they had faced all season, adding they "weren't worried about any spots beyond the interior of the line."
Reports surfaced earlier in the week that head coach Dan Quinn was likely to hire a coach "to oversee the front seven" after general manager Adam Peters noted that adding a pass rusher is a focus during his end of season press conference.
"I think where we can look at, I think, certainly another pass rusher would be something we'd definitely be looking for. Whether that's the draft or free agency, I think we have a lot of good options in both of those areas," he added.