Ryan Kerrigan is quickly making his mark three years into his coaching career.
The Washington legend, who spent 10 of his 11 NFL seasons with the burgundy and gold, retired in 2022 and immediately jumped into coaching. Former Washington coach Ron Rivera hired Kerrigan as an assistant defensive line coach.
Earlier this year, Kerrigan was one of only a few coaches that new head coach Dan Quinn retained. Quinn gave Kerrigan a new title: Assistant linebackers coach/pass rush specialist.
This summer, Quinn praised Kerrigan for his work with former Washington first-round pick Jamin Davis. Davis had switched from linebacker to defensive end, and Kerrigan spent extra time during and after practice working with him. While Davis was later released this season, that work left an impression on Washington’s coaching staff.
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was the latest to praise Kerrigan for his work with veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. Fowler, who leads the Commanders with 8.5 sacks, is on pace to break his career high of 11.5 sacks, which he set in 2019 with the Rams.
“The past couple years, his sack numbers haven’t been as high,” Whitt said of Fowler. “He’s won, he’s beat the tackle, he just hasn’t controlled and finished on the quarterback. And I give all that credit to Ryan Kerrigan. He’s done just a heck of a job taking Dante, and once you get past the tackle, control to the quarterback and finish. That’s really what he’s worked with him for a long time and it’s showing. And then the production that Dante’s having. So, that’s all Ryan right there.”
On Friday, we finally heard from Kerrigan, who explained his work with Fowler.
Recognize this guy? Ryan Kerrigan chatted us up today. On helping Dante Fowler and this 2024 fun season. pic.twitter.com/p3jxdqjSDF
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 22, 2024
Kerrigan spoke about Fowler finishing at the top of the rush and how the veteran is playing at a high level so deep into his career.
Washington’s all-time sack leader also discussed Whitt and what working for the new coach was like.
“It’s been awesome,” Kerrigan said. “His demeanor with the players is outstanding. A guy that I feel like as a player, you wanna go play for him. He’s honest.”
Finally, we get to hear what Kerrigan thinks of all of Washington’s changes and how fun things are.
“It’s been great; I mean, it’s awesome,” Kerrigan said with a smile. “We obviously got a long way and are far from where we want to be, but it’s been cool. It’s cool to see the resurgence in the fans at the stadium. Just the energy around the building has been awesome. It’s been really fun to come to work everyday and I think that permeates not just the staff but the players alike and and really just everybody in the building.”
For longtime Washington fans, it’s good to see Kerrigan as a part of a winner in the burgundy and gold.