Commanders part ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele
The Washington Commanders have parted ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele just days before training camp, the team announced. Officials offered no further comment. Reports citing Virginia records link the move to a June DWI-related arrest. Head coach Dan Quinn is expected to face questions as camp opens.
Key Takeaways
- Washington announced it is parting ways with Ben Steele and will make no further comment.
- The move came on the eve of training camp, roughly two days before the first practice.
- Reports citing Virginia public records say Steele was arrested in June on DWI-related charges.
- Steele joined the Commanders this offseason after three seasons as Arizona's tight ends coach.
- With no assistant tight ends coach on staff, Washington needs a quick replacement plan.
What did the Commanders say about Ben Steele?
On Monday morning, the Commanders posted a brief statement on their official X account: they are parting ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele, and the team will have no further comment at this time. According to reporting, Steele's bio had already been removed from the club's website when the post went live.
As NBC Sports noted, any staff change this close to camp guarantees questions for head coach Dan Quinn in his first training-camp press conference. ESPN's John Keim called it an unusual move two days before camp begins. For more BlasterPost coverage in this lane, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Why does the Ben Steele exit matter now?
Timing is the story. Washington is set to open training camp this week, and Steele was a new hire brought in to shape a remade tight end room. He was hired in early March after three seasons as the Arizona Cardinals' tight ends coach, where he worked with All-Pro Trey McBride.
Steele also previously coached for the Broncos, Vikings, Falcons, and Buccaneers. He played six seasons in the NFL and NFL Europe from 2001 to 2006. Losing a position coach this late forces a scramble before players take the field.
Was Ben Steele's departure tied to a DWI arrest?
The Commanders did not give a reason. Separate reports citing Virginia public case records say Steele was arrested in June on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and faces an additional charge for refusing a blood or breath test. Heavy.com's review of those records also lists charges for resisting arrest and an improper lane-change-related offense.
Hogs Haven, citing The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, similarly reported a DWI-related arrest and a refusal charge. Until the team speaks further—or court filings clarify the case—the coaching vacancy and the unanswered "why" will hang over the start of camp.
Who could handle Washington's tight ends next?
Hogs Haven reported there is no assistant tight ends coach on staff. Previous tight ends coach David Raih was promoted to offensive pass game coordinator when David Blough became offensive coordinator, and Raih could help with the group until a permanent hire is made.
That stopgap matters because camp practices start almost immediately. Quinn and the front office must decide whether to promote in-house, bring in an outside coach mid-prep, or lean on Raih while searching—choices that will shape how quickly the tight end room settles into a 2026 plan.