The Washington Commanders enter the offseason with a coaching staff that will feature no shortage of new faces. Both coordinators from their five-win 2025 campaign are gone, as are many positional coaches and assistants.
David Blough was promoted from the team's interim quarterbacks' coach to offensive coordinator under head coach Dan Quinn. Taking over his old role, meanwhile, is someone whose name carries a special meaning to the Commanders franchise.
D.J. Williams. The D.J. is short for Doug Jr.
Doug Williams, forever etched in history as Washington's starting quarterback and Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXII, remains part of the Commanders' front office staff as a senior advisor. But Quinn wants to make it clear that his son was not a nepotism hire. He got the job on merit alone.
Dan Quinn's own relationship with D.J. Williams drove Commanders hire, not his last name
Williams spent the past two seasons on the Atlanta Falcons' staff, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2025 and an assistant in 2024. He never overlapped with Quinn there, but the Commanders' head coach claims he has known him for a while and kept close tabs on his career.
Quinn claims that Williams aced his interview, helping him land the position. To use his exact words, per Zach Selby of the Commanders' website, "Holy s---, he was excellent."
Quinn has known new QBs coach DJ Williams for a while and has always kept an eye on him and his career. He didn't involve his father, Doug Williams, at all in the process
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) February 10, 2026
In Atlanta, Williams was a crucial figure in the development of Michael Penix Jr., who threw nine touchdowns and three interceptions in nine appearances in 2025 before a partially torn ACL ended his season. He also worked with former Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.
On the Commanders, Williams will face his toughest challenge yet: contributing to the growth of Jayden Daniels.
Washington's star signal-caller's third season will be the most instrumental of his career as he looks to rekindle his sensational rookie form. He'll be doing it while having to learn a whole new offensive scheme under Blough.
Williams' presence will be a major part of that. If he succeeds, it could potentially springboard him towards bigger opportunities on NFL coaching staffs. And for obvious reasons, all of Washington should be rooting for him.
Quinn chose Williams to work with his team's quarterbacks, not because his father is involved in the organization, but because he believes in him as a promising young coach who can make the most of the chance.
Sometimes, the best candidate for a job is just the guy it would mean the most to.