The Washington Commanders are saying goodbye to a familiar face in their quarterback room-and it’s not a player. Quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard is heading back to where it all began, taking the reins as head coach at Stanford, his alma mater. It’s a full-circle moment for the 38-year-old, who’s spent the last two seasons helping develop Washington’s young talent under center.
Pritchard’s story with Stanford runs deep. He was the Cardinal’s starting quarterback in the late 2000s before eventually giving way to a freshman phenom named Andrew Luck in 2009.
But Pritchard didn’t walk away from the game-he leaned in. By 2010, he was back on the Stanford sidelines as a graduate assistant, beginning what would become a 13-year coaching journey in Palo Alto.
He climbed the ladder from GA to offensive coordinator, helping shape the program’s identity on the offensive side of the ball.
In 2023, Pritchard made the leap to the NFL, joining the Commanders as quarterbacks coach. Even after the team moved on from Ron Rivera, new head coach Dan Quinn saw enough in Pritchard to keep him on staff-a decision that paid off.
Over the past two seasons, Pritchard played a key role in the development of Jayden Daniels, a young quarterback with all the tools but still learning the nuances of the pro game. Pritchard brought a steady hand and a deep understanding of quarterback play, both from his own experience and his years of college coaching.
Now, he’s heading back to Stanford-but this time, he’s in charge. And in a twist that feels scripted for a documentary, the man who hired him is none other than Andrew Luck.
That’s right-the same quarterback who once took Pritchard’s job on the field is now giving him the keys to the program from the front office. Luck has returned to Stanford as the program’s general manager, and his first major move was bringing Pritchard home.
After the Commanders’ loss to the Broncos on Sunday night, Quinn spoke publicly about Pritchard’s departure for the first time-and his words were nothing but praise.
“Tavita has been a great teammate for us, and I say that in the highest regard,” Quinn said. “That’s one of the highest compliments you can give a ballplayer or a coach-what they mean to the staff and the development of the team.
For him, being at Stanford for so long-as a player, a GA, a coach-it’s a pretty cool opportunity that he’s now connected with Andrew. We’re all pumped for him.
It’s a fantastic opportunity. We’re bummed personally, but yeah, we’re very excited.
I just think they’ve got great things ahead there.”
That’s the kind of respect you earn by doing things the right way, and it’s clear Pritchard left his mark in Washington.
As for what’s next in D.C., the Commanders are expected to promote from within. David Blough, the 30-year-old former NFL quarterback who’s been serving as assistant QB coach, is the likely candidate to step into Pritchard’s role.
Blough has been quietly building a reputation as a sharp offensive mind and a rising coaching talent. He’s young, but he’s been around the league and brings a player’s perspective to the job-a valuable asset when working with a developing quarterback like Daniels.
There’s no question Pritchard will be missed in Washington, but his departure opens the door for the next wave of coaching talent to step up. And for Stanford, they’re getting a head coach who knows the program inside and out, and who’s spent the last few years sharpening his approach at the highest level of the game.
It’s a new chapter for both the Commanders and the Cardinal-and for Tavita Pritchard, it’s a homecoming that feels like destiny.