Dan Quinn, the recently hired head coach of the Washington Commanders, is bringing a well-known face to his new position.
Joe Whitt Jr. is joining the Commanders as their new defensive coordinator, according to Steve Wyche of NFL Network. The Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala verified that the parties had reached an agreement on the terms of a deal.
For the previous three seasons, Whitt was the Dallas Cowboys’ pass game coordinator and secondary coach while Quinn oversaw the defense.
Over the previous few seasons, Whitt oversaw one of the NFL’s top secondary units while collaborating with Quinn in Dallas. For the past three years, the Cowboys have finished in the top three in terms of turnover differential. By 2023, the group had 26 members.
Whitt will take over for the Commanders defense, which finished the previous campaign with 18 takeaways and the worst turnover differential in the league (-14). With a defensive-minded coach like Quinn in charge, Washington might see significant defensive personnel changes.
Whitt’s hiring is the most recent development in Quinn’s coaching staff composition.
Kliff Kingsbury, the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, has agreed to take over as offensive coordinator in Washington, according to a report earlier on Sunday by ESPN’s John Keim. Kingsbury most recently worked as USC’s offensive coordinator, where he assisted in the development of Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, in which the Commanders have the No. 2 pick.
The Commanders’ future will be determined by this offseason as they proceed under the direction of Josh Harris’s new ownership group. Quinn, Whitt, and Kinsbury’s hirings are positive developments.
