We take a look at five primary names to know for the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator vacancy under head coach Dan Quinn in year three
After head coach Dan Quinn moved on from Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. as offensive and defensive coordinator, along with the rumor mill swirling and with one interview already completed, we take a look at five primary names to know for the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator vacancy:
Commanders QBs coach David Blough
If there’s an in-house option, multiple outlets have pointed to Blough as the most likely candidate. While McDaniel has drawn interest for it, Blough is expected to interview for the Lions’ vacant offensive coordinator role after stepping into Tavita Pritchard’s role as quarterbacks coach for the final month of the Commanders’ 2025 season. He’s young, just three years removed from his last appearance after a brief history in the league. Blough also has a rapport with the current room to give the offense a sense of stability, though a leap into a coordinator role would be steep.
Former Giants HC Brian Daboll
The former division foe was among the first names mentioned as a possible Kingsbury replacement with Daboll expected to be in-demand this offseason. Daboll’s affinity for Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was clear during the draft process and his experience working with Josh Allen in Buffalo translates in Washington. Whether that’s enough, though, is the question. JP Finlay of 106.7 highlighted possible concerns whether Daboll’s temperament would be a good fit for Jayden Daniels, but his experience would give Dan Quinn a proven piece on offense that enters with plenty of familiarity of the star players.
49ers OC Klay Kubiak
There’s a window for the Commanders to offer a promotion with Kubiak. While he currently serves as the offensive coordinator, the upside is the ability to become a player caller. Kubiak called the 2024 season finale and 2025 preseason before head coach Kyle Shanahan took over in the regular season. Washington has also been tied to WR Brandon Aiyuk, who has been a controversial acquisition target after not playing and drawing headlines in 2025, but he’s one Kubiak is plenty familiar with along with Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Similar to Blough, is the experience enough Kubiak served as the 49ers offensive passing game specialist in 2024 before being promoted to OC in 2025. He began coaching with the organization in 2021 as a defensive quality control coach before spending the next two seasons as the assistant QB coach.
Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel
Arguably the hottest name for the Commanders and one of the most in-demand coaches now that he’s officially become available. But the twist here is opportunities. McDaniel is also expected to be in the mix for head coaching vacancies with reports the Cleveland Browns are interested in that role. But if an offensive coordinator role is what materializes, then this is the no-brainer call for the Commanders. The Detroit Lions have already reportedly “reached out” to the former Dolphins head coach about the offensive coordinator vacancy, but the connection with the Commanders runs deep through head coach Dan Quinn. While McDaniel worked alongside Sean McVay and Matt LeFleur on Washington’s staff from 2011 through 2013, he also served as an offensive assistant under Dan Quinn during his head coaching tenure with the Falcons. McDaniel also points to Quinn as the one who turned his life around. And in a pivotal year three with big shoes to fill replacing Kingsbury, McDaniel would be the home run hire the Commanders need.
Cowboys TE coach Lunda Wells
The first official offensive coordinator interview materialized with Wells on Thursday, one year after the Cowboys denied the Commanders’ request to interview him for the vacant offensive line job and agreeing to an extension. Wells has been viewed as a key part of the Cowboys’ gameplanning over the last six seasons as the tight ends coach. There’s plenty of familiarity with Wells and Quinn given the three seasons they overlapped in Dallas prior to Quinn becoming Washington’s next head coach, and whether Quinn’s first interview being someone he worked with is a sign for the eventual hire remains to be seen. Prior to his time with Dallas, Wells worked with the New York Giants after getting his first major coaching job with LSU in 2008 under Les Miles.
Other names: Broncos offensive pass game coordinator & QB coach Davis Webb, Rams OC Los Angeles Rams Mike LaFleur, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Jaguars OC Grant Udinski