Jordan Magee may have just found the clearest path to a bigger role with the Washington Commanders.
For a while, the linebacker math looked crowded enough to make a Year 3 breakthrough feel unlikely. But Nick Bellore’s decision to retire changed the picture fast, and it leaves Washington with a noticeable opening on special teams.
The Commanders confirmed Bellore is stepping away instead of going through another training camp and regular season. That’s a surprise, and it leaves a gap in a unit that has leaned on him. At the same time, Washington has younger players in the building who now get a real chance to claim that work.
Magee sits near the front of that line. The Temple product has shown flashes on defense over his first two seasons, but his place in the linebacker hierarchy has slipped with Frankie Luvu moving back to his off-ball role, Leo Chenal arriving in free agency and the Commanders using the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Sonny Styles.
That doesn’t shut the door completely on defensive snaps for Magee. It does, however, make special teams the most obvious lane for him to matter right away. And that may be where he fits best if he wants to carve out a lasting spot.
The Commanders liked Magee’s athletic profile from the start. His 83 overall athleticism score at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine ranked third among all linebackers in Indianapolis. Those traits have shown up in the league, but the next step still comes down to cleaner discipline and better tackling technique.
Even with those areas still developing, Magee has already become a useful special teamer over the last two years. With Bellore gone, Washington needs someone to take over that kind of role, and Magee is a natural candidate.
The Commanders have leaned into a youth movement this offseason, and Bellore’s retirement fits that broader shift. The 37-year-old’s absence lowers the average age again, but it also opens more space for younger players with energy and upside.
Magee is not the only one with a shot. Kain Medrano and Ale Kaho are in the mix too. Neither has seen much defensive action yet, but both bring athleticism and instinct.
Bellore’s biggest loss may be his leadership more than his production. That’s part of how the NFL works, though. Veterans move on, players retire, and the next wave gets its turn.
For Washington, that’s a good problem to have. And if the Commanders decide to trust one player above the rest on special teams, Magee looks like the one most likely to seize it.
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