Washington Commanders Fire Tight Ends Coach Ben Steele Following Offseason Arrest
The Washington Commanders made an unexpected coaching change just one day before veterans were scheduled to report for training camp, announcing Monday that the organization has parted ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele. The team released only a brief statement confirming the move and said it would have “no further comment at this time.”
Steele had been hired earlier this offseason to join head coach Dan Quinn’s staff after spending the previous three seasons coaching tight ends with the Arizona Cardinals. His departure comes less than five months after Washington introduced its 2026 coaching staff, creating an unexpected vacancy as one of the league’s most anticipated teams begins preparations for the new season.
Arrest Led to Team Decision
According to Virginia court records first reported by The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, Steele was arrested on June 7 in Loudoun County, Virginia, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Court records indicate Steele also faces charges of:
- Refusing a blood or breath test
- Obstructing or resisting an officer without force
Multiple reports state Steele had been placed on leave after informing the organization of the arrest, and the Commanders reported the matter to the NFL before ultimately deciding to terminate him for violating team policy.
Short Tenure Ends Quickly
Washington hired Steele in February after promoting former tight ends coach David Raih to offensive pass game coordinator.
Steele arrived with a strong coaching résumé. Before joining Washington, he helped develop one of the NFL’s premier young tight ends in Trey McBride while serving as Arizona’s tight ends coach. McBride emerged as one of football’s most productive players at the position during Steele’s tenure, making him an attractive addition to Quinn’s offensive staff.
His coaching career also includes stops with the:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Denver Broncos
- Minnesota Vikings
Steele also had a brief NFL playing career as a tight end with the Green Bay Packers.
What It Means for Washington
The timing is far from ideal.
Training camp is where position coaches establish fundamentals, install offensive concepts and begin preparing players for preseason competition. Losing the tight ends coach immediately before camp forces Washington to reshuffle responsibilities.
During mandatory minicamp earlier this summer, offensive assistant Wes Welker handled the tight ends after Steele was placed on leave, making him a logical candidate to continue working with the group until Quinn announces a permanent replacement.
Washington invested heavily in upgrading its offense this offseason and enters camp with playoff expectations after building around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Maintaining continuity on the offensive staff will now become another challenge heading into preseason.
MSB Analysis
The Commanders handled this situation quickly once the legal matter became public. Rather than allowing uncertainty to linger into training camp, the organization chose to make a decisive move before practices begin.
From a football standpoint, losing a position coach is rarely as significant as losing a coordinator or head coach, but timing matters. Training camp is when relationships between coaches and players are built, and the tight ends room will now have to adjust under new leadership.
The Commanders have emphasized accountability since Josh Harris’ ownership group took over. Whether fans agree with the decision or not, Monday’s move reinforces that the organization intends to hold coaches and players to the same standards regarding team conduct.
Washington will now turn its attention back to football as training camp opens, with an announcement on Steele’s replacement expected soon.
