Tag: Ryan Kerrigan

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)

 

Every player drafted No. 16 overall in the NFL draft since 2000

Washington has had some good luck at No. 16 overall.

Since the year 2000, the Washington Commanders picked at No. 16 overall on three occasions: 2011, 2022 and the upcoming 2023 NFL draft.

Looking back at the last 23 years, there have been some excellent players to go at No. 16, including a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2003 [Troy Polamalu]. If you go back 38 years, arguably the greatest offensive player in history — Jerry Rice – went No. 16 to the San Francisco 49ers in 1985.

In 2011, Washington picked one of the greatest players in franchise history, Ryan Kerrigan. Last year, the Commanders selected Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson in a trade-down. Dotson looked like a future star in 2022.

There’s also another player on this list who was drafted by another team and ended up being one of the best offensive players in Washington’s franchise history. Do you remember who that player is? You’ll find out soon.

Here is a look at every player selected No. 16 overall in the NFL draft since 2000.

WATCH: Ryan Kerrigan in action as a coach at the Senior Bowl

Kerrigan jokes that he needs to hit the weight room again.

Ryan Kerrigan is one of Washington’s greatest players. The all-time franchise sack leader sadly spent his final NFL season with Philadelphia in 2021 before signing a one-day contract last summer to retire in Washington.

Kerrigan and his family were at training camp last summer when he retired and met with the press to discuss his career. He openly discussed coaching being a possibility, and that head coach Ron Rivera allowed Kerrigan to shadow the coaches for a couple of weeks in camp to determine if he wanted to try coaching.

Everything changed when Rivera fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III. Washington promoted assistant defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina to defensive line coach, and Kerrigan was now a full-time coach as the assistant defensive line coach.

You could argue that Washington’s defensive line was at its best as a collective unit for the first time in years. Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne earned Pro Bowl bids, while Montez Sweat continued to improve, becoming a dominant force against the run. Some of the Commanders’ young D-linemen progressed, and many credited Zgonina and Kerrigan.

After finishing his first season as a coach, Kerrigan was one of four Washington assistants to coach a position at the Reese’s Senior Bowl under the new format.

In this video from Washington’s Twitter, Kerrigan appeared to be as intense as he was during his playing career. He also injected some humor into the mix.

At one point, the noticeably slimmed-down Kerrigan noted while going through drills with his defensive linemen, “I need to hit the weight room, that Peloton’s doing me no favors right now.”

Congratulations to Coach Kerrigan on a terrific year — his first as a coach at the highest level.

This year’s Senior Bowl is important for the Commanders’ coaching staff

Four Washington assistants will coach at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl adopted a different format for 2023. Instead of two entire NFL coaching staffs coaching each team, the head coaches will act in an advisory role to different assistants throughout the NFL to promote professional development.

The new format is also good for the players. Every Senior Bowl participant will have the opportunity to work with coaches from staffs around the NFL, not one specific team. Yes, every team will be heavily represented at practice each day, but the chance for coaches to work closely with players can benefit teams and players.

The Washington Commanders will have four coaches in the game, with franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan among them. Kerrigan will coach the defensive line for the National team. Assistant running backs coach Jennifer King, assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton and assistant special teams coach Ben Jacobs will also coach in the game.

This will be a good opportunity for Washington’s coaching staff. You have full-time assistants working with specific position groups. The coaches see how these players work every day, if they’re coachable, see their strengths and weaknesses and most importantly, compete.

When we look back at past Washington draft classes, the current roster is littered with players who played in Mobile. Last year alone, quarterback Sam Howell, running back Brian Robinson Jr., wide receiver Jahan Dotson, tight end Cole Turner and guard Chris Paul all participated in the 2022 Senior Bowl.

Dotson looks like a future star, while Robinson established himself as a clear No. 1 running back late in 2022. Howell showed promise in his final start and has the chance to win the starting quarterback job in 2023. Paul started the last game, showing promise, while injuries limited Turner after a solid start to training camp.

Star wideout Terry McLaurin is also a Senior Bowl alum.

Washington needs help on the offensive line. Wharton, along with Jarrod James, will coach the National team’s offensive line. There are some intriguing prospects among that group.

Don’t be surprised if the Commanders leave Mobile with an idea of some offensive linemen they like in April’s NFL draft.

Washington appears fairly set at running back, but Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic will enter the final year of their contracts in 2023. Don’t be surprised if the Commanders add a running back later in the draft. King will have a good look at four talented prospects.

The Senior Bowl is always a fun time, as it’s the unofficial kickoff to draft season. For Washington, head coach Ron Rivera and his staff have an opportunity to add some talented and experienced players that can help the Commanders in 2023.

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Ryan Kerrigan among 4 Commanders’ coaches selected for Reese’s Senior Bowl

Quite an honor for Kerrigan, who just completed his first season as a coach.

Washington Commanders franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan recently completed his first season as a coach. It also happened to be the first year Kerrigan didn’t play football since he was a small child.

Kerrigan, who retired in July as a member of the Washington organization, where he played 10 seasons and is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks, spoke of trying out coaching. Head coach Ron Rivera had Kerrigan “shadow” Washington’s defensive coaches in training camp before suddenly, an opportunity arose.

The Commanders fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III early in training camp. Replacing him was assistant defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina. In a corresponding move, Rivera named Kerrigan the assistant defensive line coach, meaning he was a full-time coach in his first year out of football.

That’s a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

Washington’s defensive line was outstanding in 2022, with players crediting Zgonina and Kerrigan, who often specifically worked with pass rushers.

Now that the season is over, Kerrigan received another opportunity. He was among four Washington coaches selected to coach in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Kerrigan will coach the defensive line for the National squad.

Joining Kerrigan are assistant running backs coach Jennifer King, assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton and assistant special teams coach Ben Jacobs.

The Senior Bowl has a new coaching format this year. In previous years, the entire coaching staff of two of the worst NFL teams had a leg up in scouting the top senior prospects for the entire week. Now, the Detroit Lions and New York Jets head coaches will serve in an advisory capacity to the other selected coaches.

The Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4.

Commanders DC Jack Del Rio pleased with Ryan Kerrigan’s role as assistant coach

Ryan Kerrigan’s coaching career is off to a fast start.

It’s rare to see NFL teams make coaching changes in training camp. However, the Washington Commanders made a notable over the summer, firing defensive line coach Sam Mills III and promoting assistant defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina to defensive line coach.

By promoting Zgonina, the Commanders had an opening for an assistant defensive line coach. Would head coach Ron Rivera backfill that position, and who would he hire just one month ahead of a new season?

As it turns out, the answer was right in front of Rivera. Recently retired Washington legend Ryan Kerrigan, who had been shadowing coaches over the summer to see if full-time coaching may be in his future, was promoted to fill Zgonina’s old role.

The move went over well with Washington’s players, most of whom played with Kerrigan and held him in high regard.

It’s not a coincidence that Washington’s defensive line is playing at an elite after Zgonina and Kerrigan’s promotions. The former players relate well to the Commanders’ current group of defensive linemen.

Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was recently asked how Kerrigan has helped the defensive line this season.

“Yeah, he is doing his job as a coach, looking to help guys,” Del Rio said. “I think him having a different perspective, especially with the defensive ends and creating awareness as pass rushers and looking to attack different things that we identify throughout the week, that’s part of his job, help us put that rush plan together. I think he’s done a great job with it.”

Coach Kerrigan’s second career has gotten off to a fast start.