Ben Standig

With head-coaching candidates, labels often matter more than the ingredients. If fans, team executives or owners want an offensive “expert,” falling for one capable of concocting exotic route concepts that have the game film-obsessed swooning, they’ll look until they think they found one. Whether that person is a culture builder and cool under pressure is often secondary. There’s a grunty subset who, perhaps knowing star quarterbacks aren’t always readily available for acquisition, want a tough-…

The have agreed to terms with front-office executive Adam Peters to become the team’s new general manager, team sources confirmed Friday. Peters entered this hiring cycle widely viewed as the top GM target across the league and a clear target for Washington managing partner Josh Harris. Landing the 49ers’ assistant GM, considered a strong personnel evaluator, is the latest example of a changing perception of the organization following this summer’s sale from Dan Snyder to the Harris group. Adv…

The added another member to their head coach search committee. With seven candidates in the playoff bracket — and perhaps others yet to be revealed — having Adam Peters on board is ideal timing. Peters has yet to sign a contract, but the soon-to-be former assistant general manager agreed to terms to become the ’ next general manager on Friday. Now, the personnel executive who came up the ranks scouting for Bill Belichick’s and the Peyton Manning-led will have a significant say in Washington’…

ASHBURN, Va. — You weren’t going to find a negative word said about the Washington Commanders’ in this setting. All eyes entering the auditorium nestled inside the team’s main headquarters were drawn to the two chairs onstage. They were set between a logoed backdrop and a table draped with a burgundy-shaded covering, the team name on the front in gold, with a deep red “W” helmet on top. The standard stagecraft, other than the family of the day’s central figure seated in the front row next to me…

Seeing Adam Peters walking the streets of Mobile, Ala., on this particular Wednesday night, glued to his phone, wasn’t peculiar. The scouting community descends on the Senior Bowl’s host city annually in late January. Of course, the would join the fray. The oddity involved knowing the conversation wasn’t likely about draft prospects. Rather, the prospects of the organization’s biggest hire since Peters’ two weeks before. That night, Jan. 31, was when the organization knew Dan Quinn would becom…

By Ben Standig, Jon Machota and Greg Rosenstein The are hiring Kliff Kingsbury as the team’s offensive coordinator and Joe Whitt Jr. as their defensive coordinator, league and team sources told The Athletic on Sunday. Kingsbury after contract talks broke down, according to league sources. Advertisement Kingsbury, 44, had a 28-37-1 record as head coach of the from 2019 to 2022. He worked as a senior offensive analyst for USC last season. Kingsbury is the first major hire under and general man…

The Dan Quinn era with the will eventually be defined by wins and losses. Days after as former head coach ’s replacement and with player acquisitions weeks away, assessments of Quinn center on the formation of his staff. All three coordinator roles are filled with the offensive (Kliff Kingsbury) and defensive (Joe Whitt Jr.) . The Athletic reported or confirmed with team and league sources on four other coaches who have agreed to terms with the . Washington is expected to announce the full sta…

ASHBURN, Va. — Kliff Kingsbury knows what he wants at the ’s most important position. “The quarterback,” quipped the Washington Commanders’ new offensive coordinator. It’s a funny line because everyone would want the three-time Super Bowl champion under center. Kingsbury isn’t speaking in hypotheticals; he was Mahomes’ college head coach at Texas Tech. Therefore, Kingsbury knows plenty beyond the never-ending highlight clips because of their work together. Advertisement That’s not a luxury he’…

The Commanders’ stadium naming rights deal with shipping powerhouse FedEx is ending earlier than expected. The original $205 million agreement for the Landover, Md., stadium, set to conclude in 2026, is ending two years sooner, a spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic. The scenario, as first reported by The Washington Post, takes away roughly $15 million in revenue for the franchise and means the organization needs a new naming rights partner. The news occurs as ownership, led by managing partn…

There’s more to say about the at the annual Scouting Combine. Part one focused on incoming quarterback prospects Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels; ’s contract future; and how to best utilize . There is more quarterback talk in part two, with and J.J. McCarthy taking center stage, along with line fixes and backfield ball carriers. What about ? There are three primary quarterback questions in play for the Commanders: Who do they select at No. 2? Do they keep or trade Howell? If How…