Tag: Jeff Zgonina

Another former Commanders’ defensive assistant heading to the Cowboys

More coaching movement between the Cowboys and Commanders.

When the Washington Commanders hired former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to be their new head coach, there were bound to be some assistants who followed Quinn.

One was former Dallas secondary coach/pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Whitt, who followed Quinn from Atlanta to Dallas, joined him in Washington as his new defensive coordinator. It was a long overdue promotion for Whitt, who will call the Commanders’ defensive plays.

The Commanders attempted to hire others, but the Cowboys blocked the moves. Whitt received a promotion; therefore, Dallas couldn’t stop him from leaving. Also following Quinn and Whitt was assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd, who will have the same role with Washington.

How did Dallas replace Quinn? Before the Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer, they interviewed recently fired Washington coach Ron Rivera. While Rivera didn’t get the job, Dallas did hire former Washington defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.

Now, another former Commanders assistant is heading to the Cowboys.

On Friday, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reported that former Washington defensive assistant Cristian Garcia was joining Dallas as a defensive quality control assistant.

When Rivera fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer in November — after a blowout loss to the Cowboys — he took over as Washington’s defensive play-caller. He also gave Garcia a promotion as the interim defensive backs coach. Garcia would help Rivera in game planning over the Commanders’ final five games of 2023.

A University of Florida graduate, Garcia joined Washington in 2021 as a defensive coaching assistant. In 2022, he was moved to a defensive quality control coach before being promoted to assistant defensive backs coach/nickels in 2023.

 

Ryan Kerrigan ‘very excited’ to be back with the Commanders and Dan Quinn

Ryan Kerrigan is excited to be back and loves the energy Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. have brought to the organization.

Ryan Kerrigan is a Washington legend. There was a lot of heartbreak and disappointment in Dan Snyder’s 24 years as Washington’s owner, but Kerrigan was one of the bright spots.

A first-round pick in 2011, Kerrigan spent 10 seasons in the burgundy and gold before Ron Rivera inexplicably allowed him to depart for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. After one season with the Eagles, Kerrigan announced his retirement and quickly joined Rivera’s coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season.

While initially joining to see if he wanted a career in coaching, the Commanders fired former defensive line coach Sam Mills III and promoted Jeff Zgonina to replace him. Rivera promoted Kerrigan to replace Zgonina, and he’s been a full-time coach since.

Rivera was fired last month and replaced by Dan Quinn. Quinn spent the next few weeks putting together his coaching staff and retained four coaches from Rivera’s staff — Kerrigan was one of those coaches.

Kerrigan’s new title is Assistant Linebackers Coach/Pass Rush Specialist.

This week, Kerrigan spoke about returning under a new coaching staff.

“I’m very excited,” Kerrigan said. “Coach Quinn has brought a really good jolt of energy to the program, and I’m excited to get going with it.”

What about new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr?

“Coach Whitt has been very energetic in our meetings,” he said. “Same with Coach Quinn, so we’re excited to get going and get the ball rolling.”

Kerrigan spoke about what was next for Washington’s new coaching staff: player evaluation. Having Kerrigan return is a bonus for Quinn and new GM Adam Peters because he’s been here and knows the roster well.

Kerrigan can offer his opinion on Washington’s current linebacker group and the defensive line. What does he think of young defensive ends K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr? Which free-agent defensive end should the Commanders bring back between Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams?

While it was a difficult 2023 season, and the franchise needed change, it’s good to see Kerrigan back in the burgundy and gold.

Cowboys News: ESPN host Stephen A.’s ankle, celebrity ballers latest Parsons victims

Parsons participation in NBA All-Star weekend ends up with his coach in the hospital after trying to get in his way and the celebrities on the other side not faring much better. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Reputed and outspoken Cowboys hater, Stephen A. Smith, has been known to use every available chance to throw shade at Cowboys fans worldwide. Those antics may have him rethinking the time and place after an encounter with Dallas star pass rusher Micah Parsons lands him in the hospital. Speaking of Parsons, his 37 points earn him Celebrity All Star MVP honors. As his new defensive coordinator gets comfortable in the role, Mike Zimmer is finalizing his staff of assistants which will include a former Cowboys player.

While on the topic of former players, Zimmer’s track record of guys who have succeeded under his tutelage speaks for itself.

The defensive ends were given a salary inspection which may lead some to believe the edge group could be a priority once the new league year begins. Before that day rolls around, Dallas hopes to have their franchise quarterback Dak Prescott locked up to a shiny new contract. The space created from a Prescott extension could prompt moves in the wide receiver room, should it? A former Cowboys head coach gives an honest assessment of the old and new defensive staffs. That and much more in this edition of Cowboys news and notes.

 

Cowboys hire former Commanders defensive line coach

Dallas hires one of Ron Rivera’s former assistants.

The Washington Commanders took from the Dallas Cowboys this offseason by hiring defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their next head coach. Quinn brought secondary coach and pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with him to Washington as his new defensive coordinator.

That meant the Cowboys had some holes to fill. They interviewed former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera to replace Quinn, but that job went to former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. Zimmer served as the Dallas defensive coordinator from 2000-06.

Following Quinn and Whitt out of Dallas was defensive line coach Aden Durde. Durde, who followed Quinn to Dallas from Atlanta, was the Cowboys defensive line coach over the past three seasons.

As Washington officially announced its new coaching staff on Thursday, most of its former staff members were free to seek employment elsewhere. The Commanders retained four coaches from Rivera’s former staff. One member of Rivera’s former defensive staff will join Zimmer in Dallas.

Jeff Zgonina, who joined the Commanders in 2020 as the assistant defensive line coach, was promoted to defensive line coach in Aug. 2022 when Rivera fired Sam Mills III. He will join Zimmer as his new defensive line coach.

When Zgonina was promoted in Washington, Rivera hired franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan as the assistant defensive line coach. Quinn retained Kerrigan.

Zgonina played 17 years in the NFL, retiring after the 2009 season. He began his coaching career with the Texans in 2013. In addition to his time with Houston and Washington, Zgonina has coached with the Giants and 49ers.

Zgonina earned rave reviews from some of Washington’s defensive linemen, including Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

Report: Cowboys to hire Jeff Zgonina as new defensive line coach

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 17-year defensive tackle has also been on staff with four different clubs since 2013, spending the last 4 seasons in Washington.

The Cowboys have a new defensive line coach for coordinator Mike Zimmer.

According to a report first made by Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, the Cowboys are hiring Jeff Zgonina to fill the role recently vacated by Aden Durde.

The 53-year-old Zgonina was a defensive tackle in the league for 17 seasons, playing with seven teams from 1993 to 2009. He’s been on staff with four different clubs since then, most recently the Washington Commanders, where he’d been since 2020.

A seventh-round draft pick out of Purdue in 1993, Zgonina (pronounced ska-NEE-na) started his pro career with Pittsburgh. He spent time in Carolina, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Miami, and Houston, but is probably best remembered for his two stints with the St. Louis Rams that totaled five seasons and a championship in Super Bowl XXXIV.

After three years away from the game, Zgonina was hired by his last team, the Texans, to serve as their assistant defensive line coach. In 2016, he took on the same role for the New York Giants. The 49ers called him to be their defensive line coach in 2017 and 2018. He joined Washington in 2020 as assistant D-line coach, then was promoted to helm the D-line in 2022.

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Zgonina has worked under some solid defensive minds, including Wade Phillips, Jack Del Rio, Robert Saleh, Steve Spagnuolo, and most recently, Ron Rivera.

The Commanders did not retain Zgonina for Dan Quinn’s staff in 2024.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was back with the Commanders Tuesday

Sapp was back giving pointers to Washington’s talented defensive line.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was back in Ashburn Tuesday for the start of the Washington Commanders’ three-day mandatory minicamp.

If you recall, Sapp spent some time with the Commanders at last year’s minicamp and training camp. Sapp has a close relationship with Washington defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina and general manager Martin Mayhew.

While Sapp has reiterated he’s not interested in a full-time coaching career, the 13-year NFL veteran was one of his era’s best defensive players and has much to offer Washington’s deep and talented defensive line.

“They’re big, mobile, agile, hostile,” Sapp said last summer via Zach Selby of commanders.com. “They go at each other; they learn. They do everything that you’re supposed to do.”

One of those “big, mobile, agile, hostile” defensive linemen who took his game to the next level in 2022 was defensive tackle Daron Payne. Payne entered last season in the final year of his contract and earned a four-year, $90 million extension in March after setting career highs across the board.

Defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young enter the final season of their rookie contracts in 2023.

How long will Sapp be around? Don’t be surprised if he’s in town for the remainder of the week and returns for a short stint in training camp. It’s never a bad thing to have someone as successful as Sapp around giving pointers to your young defensive linemen.

Commanders DT Jonathan Allen loves and appreciates his two position coaches

Jonathan Allen is thankful for Jeff Zgonina and Ryan Kerrigan. He is super-appreciative of Kerrigan and what he brings as a former teammate and now coach.

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Jonathan Allen loves his two position coaches and likes being coached by them.

Allen sat down for a chat last week with Julie Donaldson, Senior Vice President of Media and Content.  Allen only 28, is now the second-longest tenured Commander, as only punter Tress Way has worn the Burgundy and Gold longer.

Donaldson opened by asking what Allen has learned since coming to the NFL/Washington in 2017. Allen responded he has learned he needs to work smarter, not merely harder. Entering his seventh NFL season, Allen said he is starting to notice he takes longer to recover than he did seven years ago. He and Donaldson enjoyed a chuckle as Allen expressed he has a few gray hairs now too.

Allen divulged that assistant defensive line coach “Ryan Kerrigan taught former Washington defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis how to take care of his body. Matt passed that information down to me. So, every day I do Ryan Kerrigan’s pre-practice, pre-game routine, and it works for me.”

Continuing to speak regarding Kerrigan, “He is such a critical tool. He’s a quieter guy, but he knows what he is talking about. I mean, 95.5 sacks in the NFL? Anybody would love to have that career. It’s something that I really try to tell the young guys to take advantage of. He’s not super boastful; he’s super reserved. In some aspects, you would never know, but he is truly one of the best pass rushers in the game. Try to use him as much as you can. He can teach a lot of guys a lot of things.”

Defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina is someone Allen respects as well. “He knows football. He knows how to coach it and how to play it. He’s energetic for sure. We love playing for him. We love having him.”

Here is the link to watch the entire interview.

 

Commanders name Ryan Kerrigan assistant defensive line coach

The Commanders made if official on Monday.

The Washington Redskins made it official Monday with franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan, naming him assistant defensive line coach ahead of the 2022 season.

Kerrigan signed a one-day contract with the Commanders in July so he could retire with the organization where he spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career. During his retirement press conference, Kerrigan expressed an interest in coaching.

Head coach Ron Rivera said Kerrigan would spend training camp and the preseason with the team to see if coaching was something he wanted to do.

Entering training camp, Sam Mills III was Washington’s defensive line coach. Former NFL player Jeff Zgonina was the assistant defensive line coach. Rivera dismissed Mills early in camp and named Zgonina the new defensive line coach. Kerrigan helped out with the young pass rushers throughout training camp, earning praise from several of his former teammates.

Now, Washington’s all-time franchise leader in sacks is officially a full-time NFL coach.

“Ryan Kerrigan is one of the most accomplished players in this franchise’s history,” said head coach Ron Rivera. “Following his retirement, we had a great talk about his goals for life after playing. Ryan had an interest in coaching, and we were able to allow him to shadow our coaching staff this summer. He is an extremely hard worker with tremendous knowledge of the defensive line position group. I look forward to watching him develop as a coach and assist Coach Zgonina in the defensive line room.”

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Commanders Jack Del Rio mindful and precise with media

Jack Del Rio spoke only about football on Wednesday.

Jack Del Rio did not take the bait.

Washington’s defensive coordinator was fined $100,000 by head coach Ron Rivera in June. When he met with the media Wednesday, the very first question he was asked was what he learned from the fine. Del Rio calmly replied, “Happy to be in camp right now. The team is doing a great job working on preparing for the season. Everything that I like to talk about should have to do with football and playing good defense.”

When John Keim inquired what all went into Del Rio’s departure from tweeting on Twitter, Jack simply responded, “Personal decision.”

A third question came; even offering it was unfair he was fined. But Del Rio was laser-focused, responding, “I have nothing to add.”

One reporter clearly not listening well, repeated a question Del Rio had earlier more than satisfactorily answered. He calmly responded, “I touched on that a little before.” Which Del Rio certainly had. But for the record, Del Rio did go ahead and offer some more of an answer in kindness to the reporter.

Some members of the media probably interpreted Del Rio as stingy with answers Wednesday. Yet, on the other side of the coin, in his first statement, he made it clear he was only going to talk football, and yet he was asked twice more about the events this past June.

Del Rio even was conscientious not to provide his opinion of Coach Rivera’s firing of defensive line coach Sam Mills III or the promotion of Jeff Zgonina. “I’d have to defer to coach (Rivera) on any reasoning. I think he spelled that out with you guys. I have nothing to add.”

When asked a second time about Rivera’s decision, Del Rio again was judicious. “Like I said, anything you want to talk about in terms of that, I just defer to coach.”

Now Del Rio was more than happy to compliment Zgonina’s coaching, “Jeff is doing a good job. He’s a guy that played 17 years in the league. I like that. I think he brings some intensity. I like that. I think the guys respond well to him and his teaching. I think he brings intensity on the way he coaches the guys. I think there is connectivity. It is important to be able to connect with the guys and I think he does that. Thus far, a short, small sample but I have been happy with the way it has worked out.”

Del Rio did compliment some of his players’ performances thus far in preseason. “I think James Smith-Williams is the first guy that comes to my mind. He is running with the ones. I think he is a guy that is rugged. He is doing a great job with it. Really happy with him. I think Casey Toohill has developed. I think Efe (Obada) is developing. Those guys are giving us some presence on the edge, and of course, Montez Sweat is leading the way with that group.”

“I think Jamin (Davis) is playing with more certainty and more confidence. He understands where he belongs. Talent wise with his abilities, he’s locked in, and mentally he really understands where he belongs. He is having a strong camp for us, and we are going to need him to play well for us.”

“Cole (Holcomb) is really asserting himself in a leadership role. I think he is doing a great job mentoring some of the other linebackers, asserting himself in the huddle, taking charge and making the call, being really strong with it. I think his preparation is very strong. I’m happy with the way he has approached it.”

Del Rio did provide much more, but space does not permit here. Here is the full video.

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Commanders DE James Smith-Williams believes in DL coach Zgonina

Commanders DE James Smith-Williams endorses new DL coach Jeff Zgonina.

Naturally, James-Smith Williams was asked questions about his old and new defensive line coaches on Wednesday when he met with the media.

One day after his defensive line coach Sam Mills III was fired, the Commanders defensive end appeared before the media following Wednesday’s practice.

Asked to respond on how the team took it when they learned Mills was fired: “Like Jon (Allen) said, ‘Football is a great sport, tough business.’ We respect what Coach Ron (Rivera) does for the best interest of the team.” It appears Smith-Williams endorses Rivera’s coaching decision.

The third-year Washington defensive end is confident in defensive line Coach Jeff Zgonina: “Z’s (Zgonina) been here the entire time I’ve been here, so there’s a lot of continuity. It feels very familiar, very much the same.”

The former NC State Wolfpack defender also likes Zgonina’s energy, “Z’s (Zgonina) always been the same guy, super intense, always getting out there, and always trying to push us. So having that around it’s really a lot of fun.”

Smith-Williams believes Zgonina’s NFL playing experience is a real plus.
“Yeah, definitely. He played for 17 years. He knows what we need to hear. So he’s always really good about that.”

In the NFL world of coaches being hired to be fired, he knows the players must stay focused despite sudden changes. “We still have to go out and play. The NFL is more of a self-start league anyway. You aren’t going to need someone to drag you along. You are going to have to push the pace regardless.”

Having started six games last season, he feels he is progressing compared to last year. “Yeah, a lot better. I’m not coming off major surgery. I have the year starting experience under my belt. So you kind of know what to expect, and I know what the system’s like. So, year three I’m really excited for.”

The former seventh-round 2020 draft choice (229 overall) understands his role last year was to be ready to contribute when Chase Young tore his ACL. Now in 2022, Smith-Williams again prepares to provide as much as he can while Young returns from his ACL rehab and recovery.

Starting six games in 2021, JSW contributed 11 solo tackles, 19 assisted tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits and 2.5 QB sacks.

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