The Washington Commanders are adding a fresh face to their coaching staff - and one with a quarterback’s perspective. Former NFL signal-caller Danny Etling has been hired as the team’s new assistant quarterbacks coach, stepping into his first official coaching role.
Etling, 31, brings a unique résumé to the table. He’s a former seventh-round pick of the New England Patriots back in 2019, and while his time as an NFL quarterback didn’t come with headline starts or Pro Bowl nods, it did give him a front-row seat to a variety of offensive systems and locker rooms. That kind of journeyman experience - bouncing from team to team, adapting quickly, staying mentally sharp - tends to shape coaches who know how to connect with players grinding for their shot.
Etling’s NFL path was anything but linear. After signing a four-year deal with the Patriots that included a six-figure signing bonus, he was released at the end of the preseason.
But New England liked what they saw enough to bring him back on the practice squad, and later on a futures deal. Still, roster churn is a reality in the league, and Etling was waived again, this time landing with the Atlanta Falcons.
That began a stretch of short-term stops that’s familiar to many fringe quarterbacks trying to stick in the league. Atlanta brought him back on a futures contract in 2022, but he was released after a stint on the COVID-19 list.
From there, Etling had brief stays with the Seahawks, Vikings, Broncos, and Packers - even returning to Atlanta at one point before another run with the Packers during 2022 training camp. He finished that year on Green Bay’s practice squad.
While Etling never saw regular-season playing time, his time in quarterback rooms across the league - from Foxborough to Green Bay - gave him exposure to a wide range of coaching styles, offensive philosophies, and locker room cultures. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes experience that often translates well to coaching, especially in a developmental role like assistant quarterbacks coach.
Before his NFL journey, Etling put together a solid college career split between Purdue and LSU. He threw for over 7,000 yards, completing nearly 58 percent of his passes with 43 touchdowns to 19 interceptions. Those numbers don’t scream Heisman, but they do reflect a quarterback who could manage a game, make plays when needed, and lead in high-pressure environments - traits that often carry over when mentoring young signal-callers.
For the Commanders, this hire adds another layer to their quarterback development pipeline. Etling knows the grind, understands the mental side of the position, and has lived the ups and downs of life on the fringe of NFL rosters. That kind of perspective can be invaluable in a coaching room, especially for a team looking to build consistency and confidence at the quarterback position.
It’s a new chapter for Danny Etling - one that starts not under center, but with a headset and a clipboard. And given the path he’s taken to get here, don’t be surprised if he makes the most of it.