Washington Commanders Coaching Tracker: Larry Izzo hired as special teams coordinator
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By: Scott Jennings
Tracking Washington’s assistant coach search
Managing partner Josh Harris introduced Adam Peters as the Washington Commanders new GM on Tuesday, January 9th, and he spent the rest of the month searching for his new head coach. That list was slimmed down to 4 candidates after the two youngest OCs on the list decided to stay with their current teams. Cowboys DC Dan Quinn has been hired as the Commanders next head coach, and he has assessed the previous coaching staff, and started to fill out his new staff. The offensive and defensive coordinator positions were filled yesterday by Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr respectively. And he’ll also have to decide if special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor can survive another change at head coach.
Quinn’s first reported hire for his coaching staff was former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury for offensive coordinator. Kingsbury spent last season at USC, working with this year’s expected 1st overall pick, QB Caleb Williams. Washington is expected to draft a QB, and there are three currently in the discussion for their #2 overall pick. Kingsbury will have a highly drafted QB, and last year’s starter, Sam Howell, to work with in his first year with Washington. He is reportedly working on filling his staff, but no names have been reported.
Dan Quinn’s second hire was one that was reported as likely as soon as he was linked to the Washington job. Dallas Cowboys pass game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. will follow Quinn to Washington, and run his defense here. Whitt was considered a candidate to replace Quinn in Dallas, but he chose to follow his boss. Dallas is reportedly interviewing former Commanders HC Ron Rivera for their open DC job.
Washington has been working to fill out their new coaching staff. They made several requests to the Dallas Cowboys after poaching two of their coaches. Dallas denied most of them, but did allow two of their defensive assistants to interview with Washington. The Commanders also made requests for assistants from the Raiders and Giants.
Washington reportedly made their first big hire under OC Kliff Kingsbury. The Commanders interviewed former Philadelphia Eagles OC Brian Johnson for their OC job, before going with Kingsbury. Johnson will still be joining Dan Quinn’s coach staff, but it will be in a “prominent offensive staff role” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. There has been speculation that he will be the QB coach and possibly have the pass game coordinator title.
Washington also signed former Las Vegas Raiders defensive pass-game coordinator Jason Simmons to the same role with the Commanders. He will also be the DBs coach, and will work with ne DC Joe Whitt Jr. who had that same job with Dan Quinn on the Dallas Cowboys. Washington’s secondary was a mess last year, and the only coach fired along with DC Jack Del Rio during the season was DBs coach Brent Vieselmeyer.
It was reported on Friday afternoon that Washington has hired their new special teams coordinator, replacing Nate Kaczor who has been with the team since 2019. Larry Izzo has been the Seattle Seahawks ST Coordinator since 2018, and has had some highly rated teams over the last few years.
Stay tuned for the latest updates as they happen
Rumors and reported interest and interviews
Ryan Kerrigan still in play for position on Washington’s coaching staff:
Curious what Washington does with the DL coach positions. Yes, Ryan Kerrigan remains very much in play to return to same spot as asst DL. But wait/see.
— John Keim (@john_keim) February 9, 2024
Larry Izzo replaces Nate Kaczor as special teams coordinator:
The Washington Commanders are hiring Larry Izzo as their special teams coordinator, per source.
* Seattle’s special teams coordinator since 2018
* 3-time SB champ as a player
* Grew up in NoVa (Ashburn’s Broad Run HS)— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 9, 2024
The #Commanders’ new special-teams coordinator, Larry Izzo, was Seattle’s special-teams coordinator for the last three seasons.
The Seahawks’ ranking in special-teams DVOA for each season:
***2021 – No. 5
***2022 – No. 4
***2023 – No. 8Dan Quinn is slaying it with this staff.
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) February 9, 2024
Tavita Pritchard will stay as the QB coach:
More than a few teams had called about him. When Pritchard joined the staff last year, idea was to develop and eventually elevate. https://t.co/R9Me71uJPl
— John Keim (@john_keim) February 9, 2024
Washington requests interview with Texans Asst OL coach:
Sources: #,Texans assistant line coach Cole Popovich interviews for #Commanders’ offensive line coach job @KPRC2 https://t.co/H4yviWadrp
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 8, 2024
Washington hires Jason Simmons as their DBs coach and defensive pass-game coordinator:
#Commanders are hiring #Raiders defensive pass-game coordinator Jason Simmons for the same role, per source.
Simmons has helped develop young corners Jaire Alexander, Donte Jackson and Jack Jones over the years. Raiders ranked ninth in scoring defense last year. pic.twitter.com/2d3gpWMAya
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 8, 2024
The Commanders are hiring Jason Simmons as DBs coach and defensive pass game coordinator, source confirmed (1st by @JFowlerESPN).
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 8, 2024
Brian Johnson hired for a prominent offensive staff role:
This will likely be as a pass-game coordinator role and should be done soon, I’m told.
Big get for Dan Quinn. Johnson is good with quarterbacks and Philly finished top-eight in total offense and points last year. https://t.co/XK1o6B6Tt8
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 8, 2024
Former Eagles OC Brian Johnson will join the Commanders offensive staff, per sources. (@JFowlerESPN 1st)
Johnson was a hot name after the Eagles moved on from him. He met with the Browns, Bucs, Saints, along with talks with several other teams. He lands on Dan Quinn’s staff.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) February 8, 2024
More Cowboys requests:
They were given permission so speak with assistant DL coach Sharrif Floyd and quality control coach/defensive assistant Pete Ohnegian.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 8, 2024
Cowboys block Washington’s interview request:
The #Commanders put in a request to interview #Cowboys TEs coach Lunda Wells for their offensive line coach position under Dan Quinn, but Dallas blocked the request, sources say. Wells and DQ worked together for years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2024
Washington requested to interview Giants Assistant Special Teams Coach Mike Adams for their DBs coach:
Washington Commanders have put in a request to interview #NYGiants assistant special teams coach Mike Adams for their DB coaching job, per sources.
Adams, a 16-year NFL veteran and two-time Pro Bowl safety, is a New Jersey native like new HC Dan Quinn.
Adams served as special…— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) February 7, 2024
Head of Football Operations
49ers AGM Adam Peters – Hired as GM, 5-year contract
Washington Commanders Coaching Staff
Head Coach – Dan Quinn
Offensive Coordinator – Kliff Kingsbury
Offensive assistant(Title unkown) – Brian Johnson
QB Coach – Tavita Pritchard
Defensive Coordinator – Joe Whitt Jr
DBs coach and Defensive Pass-game Coordinator – Jason Simmons
Specialteams coordinator- Larry Izzo
Originally posted on Hogs Haven
