The Washington Commanders have announced several new assistant coaches to the 2026 staff, but whether one experienced coach returns remains unclear.
The Washington Commanders have already announced and hired the bulk of the 2026 coaching staff weeks after finalizing the coordinator search, but one big domino remains: Brian Johnson.
Johnson, 39, remains a possibility to depart the organization with his status still undecided.
The former Eagles offensive coordinator drew an interview with the Denver Broncos during the early stages of their search for a new offensive coordinator, but that would not materialize into anything after head coach Sean Payton opted to promoted Davis Webb into the role. While it closed the door on the chance for Johnson to head to the AFC for the first time in his career, that hasn't materialized into a finalized decision to remain with the Commanders in 2026. And according to ESPN's John Keim, Johnson has yet to officially inform the Commanders of his final decision for 2026.
"Washington has allowed Johnson to seek other opportunities if that's what he wants," Keim said on his latest podcast.
Johnson joined the organization in 2024 as both offensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach, though was ultimately passed over during the offensive coordinator search as head coach Dan Quinn turned to David Blough in just his third year coaching in the NFL.
Johnson previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Eagles in 2023, while he's also held the title in the college ranks after stints with Utah, Houston and Florida, making his status more complex than the rest.
"Washington wants to make sure that if Johnson does return, he does so without any negative feelings about not being promoted," Keim added.
It marks a notable development for a Washington staff littered with inexperience along its coaching staff with several assistants stepping into elevated role for the first time in their careers. And with much of the staff in place, it may mark the final major domino for head coach Dan Quinn and the front office before shifting all attention toward the player acquisition phase of the offseason.
Johnson's five seasons of experience coaching in the NFL serves well for an offensive staff now anchored by a coordinator with just three years of coaching experience under his belt, but what direction the Commanders would go should Johnson opt for a different opportunity remains to be seen. Darrell Bevell was pointed to as a possible name to know given his connection to Blough during their time in Detroit, but he has since taken a job with the Carolina Panthers as the new associate head coach and offensive specialist in 2026.
Meanwhile, Washington made several moves to the offensive staff including the hire of DJ Williams and Danny Etling as new quarterbacks and assistant quarterbacks coaches, along with a pair of promotions to fill the offensive line and assistant offensive line coaching positions in 2026. Former NFL wide receiver Wes Welker was also promoted where he will serve as an offensive assistant one season after helping out the Commanders on special teams in 2025, head coach Dan Quinn revealed earlier this month.