Head coach Dan Quinn has gone well out of his comfort zone already this offseason. The Washington Commanders have undertaken a mini-coaching makeover. But instead of siding with experience and people he'd worked with previously, the focus was on progressive coaches who could bring the modern ideas needed to take the franchise forward.
Daronte Jones will call defensive plays for the first time at the NFL level. David Blough is running the offense, which is arguably a bigger risk. Unlike the defensive coordinator, he's also a relative newcomer to the coaching ranks, so it's a supreme leap of faith that could legitimately go either way.
The Commanders' decision to hire D.J. Williams as quarterbacks coach also raised eyebrows.
Some fans and experts immediately thought this was a sentimental hire, given that his father is legendary Washington signal-caller Doug Williams, who also holds a front-office position. Quinn shot down this notion, and Kirk Cousins left no doubt that this could be an exciting hire.
Kirk Cousins' praise for D.J. Williams should be enough to silence Commanders' skeptics
Cousins, who spent the last two years working closely with Williams on the Atlanta Falcons, gave the hire his seal of approval during an appearance with Kevin Sheehan on The Team 980. The former Washington quarterback highlighted his intelligence and enthusiasm as reasons for optimism. He also thought the Commanders might be onto something with the way they've approached the hiring process this offseason.
"I think he's another coach that's up and coming, knows football, is hungry to learn, has good self-awareness, good emotional intelligence. So, I think he'll work great with David [Blough], and the two of them are coaches that I think Washington should be really excited about this year, but also in the years to come. I think they've got some talent on their staff they should be really excited about."Kirk Cousins via The Team 980
Kirk Cousins offers insight on the Commanders' new QB coach D.J. Williams, with whom he worked in Atlanta, on The Kevin Sheehan Show. pic.twitter.com/X5hPyum0i4
— The Team 980 (@team980) February 18, 2026
Williams may have ties to the organization, but he got the job on merit. Quinn revealed that his father wasn't even aware of the interview until a job offer was confirmed. Cousins has been around a lot of coaches, so for him to dish out such praise also speaks volumes.
Jayden Daniels lost two key allies in Tavita Pritchard and Kliff Kingsbury in a short timeframe. The weapons around him should also look much different when on-field preparations for the 2026 campaign begin. Blough provides some continuity, and considering how Doug Williams became a mentor to him, he'll probably hit it off with his son quickly.
There was far too much pressure on Quinn to just make this hire for the sake of the emotional attachment. He genuinely believes Williams is the right man for the job. Blough agrees, and Cousins also thinks Washington may have hit the jackpot here.
That should be enough to appease those who remain skeptical.