The Washington Commanders came into this season riding high after a deep playoff run, with hopes that their young quarterback Jayden Daniels could build on a breakout rookie campaign. But fast forward to Week 13, and the optimism has given way to frustration. Sitting at 3-9 after a gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, the Commanders are searching for answers - and making changes on the fly.
Injuries have hit this team hard, and the ripple effects are showing up in every phase of the game. Head coach Dan Quinn, known for his defensive acumen, made a bold move recently by taking over defensive play-calling duties from coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. It’s the kind of midseason shake-up that signals urgency - and maybe even a bit of desperation - as Washington tries to salvage something from a season that’s slipped off the rails.
And now, there’s change in the quarterback room too.
Tavita Pritchard, who had been working closely with Daniels as the Commanders’ quarterbacks coach, coached his final game with the team on Sunday night. He’s heading back to the college ranks to take over as head coach at Stanford, a move that had reportedly been agreed upon before the game. With Pritchard out, the Commanders didn’t waste time naming his replacement: David Blough will step in as quarterbacks coach for the remainder of the season.
Yes, that David Blough - the former Purdue standout and NFL journeyman who’s now stepping into a key developmental role for one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks. Blough’s playing career never took off the way he might’ve hoped, but even during his college days, he showed the kind of football IQ and leadership that often translate well to the coaching ranks. Now, he’ll be tasked with helping Daniels regain the rhythm that made him such a revelation last year.
Daniels hasn’t looked like the same player in Year 2. Some of that is on the offensive line, some of it’s on the injuries, and some of it is just the natural growing pains that come with being a young quarterback in a league that’s constantly adjusting. But the Commanders still believe in his ceiling, and Blough’s job now is to help him find his footing again.
The fan reaction to Blough’s promotion has been mostly positive, with plenty of folks pointing out his leadership qualities and football mind. And while this move won’t magically fix everything that’s gone wrong in Washington this year, it’s another sign that the organization is trying to steady the ship - and prioritize Daniels’ development in the process.
With five games left, the Commanders aren’t playing for the playoffs. But they are playing for something just as important: the future of their franchise quarterback. And now, David Blough is right in the middle of that mission.