Tag: Ryan Kerrigan

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.

Here is the Commanders’ coaching staff for 2024

Introducing Washington’s 2024 coaching staff.

The Washington Commanders appear close to having a full coaching staff. New head coach Dan Quinn has assembled an impressive coaching staff over the past two weeks, adding three more names on Wednesday.

Washington hired Anthony Lynn, the former Chargers head coach and current 49ers assistant head coach and running backs coach, to coach running backs and lead the running game. Additionally, the Commanders hired Tom Donatell (defensive backs) and Darryl Tapp (defensive line) to complete the staff.

From all indications, everyone around the NFL believes Quinn has hired an elite staff. Washington hired two former head coaches and three former coordinators (four, if you count special teams coach Larry Izzo). There were concerns about some positions, and the Commanders alleviated those concerns by layering them with another tremendous hire.

Washington returns four coaches from last season’s staff, including franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan.

Here is the Commanders’ 2024 coaching staff.

Note: We will add anyone Washington announces that isn’t on this list.

Bobby Engram to return as Commanders wide receivers coach

Bobby Engram is the third Washington assistant set to return in 2024.

As Dan Quinn continues to fill out his first coaching staff for the Commanders, another holdover from Ron Rivera’s staff will return in 2024.

Former NFL player and veteran coach Bobby Engram will return next season as Washington’s wide receivers coach, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. Engram was hired by Eric Bieniemy last offseason and joins quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard coaches who’ll be on Quinn’s staff.

Washington’s wide receivers took a step back last season, although that had more to do with Bieniemy’s offense than Engram’s coaching. The Commanders’ wideouts had issues separating consistently, and Washington’s route concepts were often criticized.

Engram, 51, is a former second-round pick of the Chicago Bears. He played 14 NFL seasons and finished his career with 650 receptions, 7,751 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. His coaching career began immediately after playing with the 49ers in 2011.

In his 13-year coaching career, Engram has had stops with the 49ers (2011), Pitt Panthers (2012-13), Baltimore Ravens (2014-21) and Wisconsin (2022) before coming to Washington in 2023.

One person happy that Engram was back: Wide receiver — and fellow Penn State alum — Jahan Dotson.

Engram, Pritchard and Ryan Kerrigan will all return in 2024, with Kerrigan taking on the role of outside linebackers coach/pass rush specialist.

The only position offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury must fill on his staff now is running backs coach. Former running backs coach Randy Jordan is now in Tennessee.

Ryan Kerrigan to return to the Commanders in 2024

Good news. Ryan Kerrigan is back in 2024.

Franchise icon Ryan Kerrigan will return to the Washington Commanders in 2024.

According to John Keim of ESPN, Kerrigan will remain on Washington’s coaching staff under new head coach Dan Quinn. Kerrigan began his coaching career two years ago as the assistant offensive line coach. Kerrigan will serve as the assistant linebackers coach/pass rush specialist in his new role.

Kerrigan holds Washington’s franchise record with 95.5 sacks. He was a first-round pick out of Purdue in 2011, playing 10 seasons in the burgundy and gold before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021.

Kerrigan joined the Commanders as a coaching intern in 2022. When former head coach Ron Rivera fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III, Jeff Zgonina was promoted to replace him, and Kerrigan later replaced Zgonina.

In 2022, Kerrigan was named one of the 90 greatest players in franchise history.

The Commanders have yet to name a new defensive line coach or linebackers coach but hired Joe Whitt Jr. as the defensive coordinator. Quinn will also be heavily involved with Washington’s defense.

Ben Standig of The Athletic also reported that tight end coach Todd Storm and offensive line coaches Travelle Wharton and Juan Castillo will not return in 2024.

The Commanders hired Bobby Johnson as offensive line coach earlier Monday.

Former Washington player details when he thinks Chase Young’s relationship with Commanders changed

Some great insight from a former Washington player on when he believes Chase Young’s relationship with the Commanders may have changed.

Chase Young’s tenure with the Washington Commanders ended last week with 14 sacks in less than four full seasons. It’s a disappointing ending for the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, who is now a member of the San Franciso 49ers.

There were many reasons Young’s time with Washington didn’t go as planned. First, there was the knee injury. Young tore his ACL in Nov. 2021 while also injuring his patellar tendon and didn’t return until Christmas Eve 2022.

But before Young’s injury, he struggled. He had only 1.5 sacks in the nine games before his injury. In three games last season, Young did not record a sack, meaning he had just 1.5 sacks over the past two seasons combined.

There was also Young choosing to skip voluntary OTAs in 2021. That angered head coach Ron Rivera and the entire coaching staff. Young felt he had arrived after an impressive rookie and used his offseason to shoot commercials. While it was voluntary, he was a captain and the only player who skipped the offseason program.

One former Washington player believes he knows when Young’s relationship with the Commanders changed.

Former Washington defensive tackle Kedric Golston played 11 NFL seasons — all with Washington. He last played in 2016, which meant he played six seasons with the franchise’s all-time sack leader, Ryan Kerrigan.

Kerrigan, of course, is now in his second season as Washington’s assistant defensive line coach after retiring ahead of the 2022 season. Kerrigan last played for Washington in 2020, spending his final season in Philadelphia before joining the Commanders’ staff in the summer of July 2022. That means Kerrigan had the opportunity to play with Young for one season and coach him for two seasons.

Golston believes Kerrigan’s departure after the 2020 season was a turning point for Young and the Commanders.

“I think when the Commanders or the Washington Football Team didn’t re-sign Kerrigan after Chase’s second year, in my opinion, I think that set him back from a development standpoint,” Golston said last week in an appearance on “The Hoffman Show” on Team 980 with host Craig Hoffman.

“Because now, you have two young guys (Young and Montez Sweat) in the room versus a guy, say what you want to about Kerrigan; I know he’s on the staff now, but it was a guy you could lock him in for 10-11 sacks a year and was just a quiet assassin. We would’ve been better as an organization; this guy (Young) would’ve been on every billboard around because that’s the type of player that he was. I think putting him with other guys, that, one that he respects, two, that he can learn from, because not only do they seem to be professional off the field but on the field playing at a high level. I think he’s going to grow from it.”

Throughout his rookie season, Young took every opportunity to praise Kerrigan.

This was outstanding insight from Golston. Golston also believes Washington’s defense could be better without Young and Sweat, not because they aren’t terrific players, but because defensive line play is all about cohesion.

Letting Kerrigan go after the 2020 season could’ve been avoided. Kerrigan signed with the Eagles on a one-year, $2.5 million contract, something the Commanders could have easily afforded at the time. Not only would Kerrigan have been around to serve as a mentor to Young and Sweat, but he would’ve given Washington a third edge rusher, something it needed in 2021.

Ryan Kerrigan’s daughter has adorable reaction to Commanders trading Montez Sweat

This is the best thing you’ll see all day.

If you were to ask Washington Commanders’ fans who their favorite coach was, the answer would be easy: Assistant defensive line coach Ryan Kerrigan. Washington’s all-time sack leader is in his second season as an NFL assistant after retiring in the summer of 2022.

One of the 90 greatest players in franchise history, Kerrigan played 10 seasons in the burgundy and gold, recording 95.5 sacks.

Earlier this week, two of Kerrigan’s favorite students, defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young, were traded ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Kerrigan was in a unique position, having played two seasons with Sweat and one season with Young — both players had massive respect for Kerrigan.

While Kerrigan was undoubtedly sad over Sweat and Young’s departures, someone else in his family was even more upset.

Kerrigan’s wife, Jessica, shared a video of the couple’s daughter, Haysie, learning that her favorite player (Sweat) had been traded.

She was none too happy.

Absolutely adorable.

The Commanders will miss Sweat and Young, who combined for 11.5 sacks through the first eight games. Washington plays at New England in Week 9.

Rookie DE Andre Jones Jr. forcing his way onto Commanders’ 53-man roster

Jones is taking advantage of working under Washington legend Ryan Kerrigan.

The Washington Commanders headed into the 2023 NFL draft knowing they needed help at defensive end. Not necessarily for 2023, but 2024 and beyond.

Washington’s top five defensive ends [Montez Sweat, Chase Young, James Smith-Williams, Efe Obada and Casey Toohill] are all entering the final year of their contracts. Some will return, some will not.

That led the Commanders to select a pair of defensive ends in the draft: K.J. Henry [5th round, Clemson] and Andre Jones Jr. [7th round, Louisiana].

Taking both edge rushers in the same draft had many believing they were battling for one roster spot in 2023. And naturally, the edge would go to Henry because he was the higher selection.

Not necessarily. And that has nothing to do with Henry. Henry has had a good camp. But Jones is quietly having an outstanding training camp.

Jones has stood out all summer. He was disruptive in the preseason opener vs. Cleveland. And in Wednesday’s joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, Jones got some runs with the starters opposite Sweat with Young sidelined.

After practice, head coach Ron Rivera couldn’t contain his excitement for Jones.

“Wow, he’s a dynamic young man,” Rivera said. “He’s got some explosion off the edge. He’s got a lot to learn in terms of technique and the scheme itself, but his talent and his abilities did flash, did show. So he’s a guy that we gotta pay a little extra attention to this week.”

Rivera sometimes likes to downplay bubble players, likely in an effort to either sneak them onto the practice squad if they don’t make the 53-man roster.

Rivera had more to say regarding Jones.

“Yes he has,” when asked if Jones had exceeded expectations. “We thought this would be one of those learning things, and he seems to be assimilating very nicely, but as I said, he’s still got some more things to learn.”

After Wednesday’s practice, Jones caught up with ESPN’s John Keim and said he is soaking in as much knowledge as possible from assistant defensive line coach — and Washington legend — Ryan Kerrigan.

Jones undoubtedly began the summer firmly on the bubble, likely a candidate for the practice squad. But for the Commanders to give him some run with the starters, they see something special in the seventh-round rookie.

The next two preseason games could determine Jones’ fate on cutdown day. However, it sounds like the Commanders may have already made up their mind.

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.

 

K.J. Henry excited to be with the Commanders and ready to work

K.J. Henry is excited to get to Washington and had the opportunity to get to know Ryan Kerrigan ahead of the draft.

The Washington Commanders love high-character players who produced at Power 5 schools. No one in their 2023 NFL draft class fits that profile like former Clemson defensive end K.J. Henry.

Washington moved up in the fifth round to select the former Clemson Tiger, who finished his college career with 28 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.

Shortly after the Commanders selected Henry, we saw the video of Henry learning that Washington picked him and sharing an embrace with his father — a longtime Washington fan. Henry’s father came down the stairs wearing a 2002 Jeremiah Trotter jersey with a Redskins hat.

We also learned the story of Henry, with the help of some of his teammates, using NIL to raise money to help find his father a kidney.

Earlier this week, Henry joined “Grant and Danny” on 106.7 The Fan and made quite an impression on Washington fans even if he was formerly a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Henry talked about how he didn’t have a lot of contact with Washington ahead of the draft, and most of his contact came via assistant defensive line coach Ryan Kerrigan, who happens to be the franchise’s all-time sack leader.

Henry first got to know Kerrigan at the Senior Bowl in January when Kerrigan helped coach the defensive line, and he shared with Kerrigan how his dad was a massive fan of No. 91.

Grant Paulsen later asked Henry what NFL player he’d compare himself to and Henry humbly answered the question.

“I can’t necessarily say comp, but definitely people I study due to the measurables that are similar to mine are Chandler Jones, Shaq Barrett and Robert Quinn,” Henry answered.

Paulsen also asked Quinn if he was more of a power or speed rusher and he explained that he could be both, but ended with the following answer.

“If I gotta go around you, I’ll go around you,” Henry said. “And if I gotta go through you, I’ll go through you.”

Perfect.

The best part of the interview, from a Washington perspective. Within 5-10 minutes of the Commanders picking Henry, his dad went upstairs and was dressed in Washington’s colors from head to toe, including burgundy shoes.

The Henry family will be popular among Washington fans.

 

Washington’s 1st-round draft choices in the Daniel Snyder era

Looking back at each of Washington’s first-round picks in the Dan Snyder era. It started off with a bang.

Daniel Snyder first became the Washington Redskins owner in 1999.

It was May of 1999, and the 1999 NFL draft had just been held April 17-18. So, Snyder’s first draft was the 2000 draft and wow, did he take that draft by storm. He created a huge stir in free agency by signing aging veterans to extremely overpaid contracts that would lead to less performance on the field and more dead money cap hits in the following years.

When the draft arrived he had made moves resulting in Washington holding the second and third overall selections in that draft. For Snyder, it was WIN NOW and WORRY LATER.

Well, there wasn’t much winning, and there has been more than enough to worry about for the 23 years of his ownership.

Who were the Washington first-round draft choices during the Daniel Snyder era?

  • 2000: Lavar Arrington (2nd overall), Chris Samuels (3rd overall)
  • 2001: Rod Garnder (15th overall)
  • 2002: Patrick Ramsey (32nd overall)
  • 2003: To the NY Jets for signing restricted free agent WR Laveranues Coles
  • 2004: Sean Taylor (5th overall)
  • 2005: Carlos Rogers (9th overall), Jason Campbell (25th overall)
  • 2006: Traded to Denver in Jason Campbell deal
  • 2007: LaRon Landry (6th overall)
  • 2008: Traded to Atlanta (drafted Devin Thomas, Fred Thomas)
  • 2009: Brian Orakpo (13th overall)
  • 2010: Trent Williams (4th overall)
  • 2011: Ryan Kerrigan (16th overall)
  • 2012: Robert Griffin (2nd overall)
  • 2013: Traded to the Rams for Robert Griffin selection
  • 2014: Traded to the Rams for Robert Griffin selection
  • 2015: Brandon Scherff (5th overall)
  • 2016: Josh Doctson (22nd overall)
  • 2017: Jonathan Allen (17th overall)
  • 2018: Daron Payne (13th overall)
  • 2019: Dwayne Haskins (15th overall), Montez Sweat (26th overall)
  • 2020: Chase Young (2nd overall)
  • 2021: Jamin Davis (19th overall)
  • 2022: Jahan Dotson (16th overall)