The Washington Commanders are taking care of their own.
With new and unproven offensive coordinator David Blough in the fold, the Commanders promoted Super Bowl champion offensive lineman Darnell Stapleton from assistant offensive line coach to offensive line coach and promoted Shane Toub from offensive quality control coach to assistant offensive line coach.
“Sources: Commanders are naming Darnell Stapleton offensive line coach and Shane Toub assistant OL coach,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote on his official X account on Monday. “Promotions for both. Stapleton has worked closely with new OC David Blough and been a big part of Washington’s game planning and protection plans the last two years.”
It’s a big step up for Stapleton, who has carved out a decade-plus as an assistant coach since his playing career ended in 2010.
Toub is son of legendary NFL special teams coordinator Dave Toub, a 3-time Super Bowl champion who has been with the Kansas City Chiefs since 2018.
Commanders Called Out for Coaching Moves
The Commanders’ coaching staff moves since finishing the season 5-12 have been somewhat unusual, to say the least. And not in a great way, either.
It’s a far cry from how the Commanders ended last season and entered this season after making it to the NFC Championship Game and being tabbed as Super Bowl contenders.
It’s also what led to head coach Dan Quinn firing both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt.
“Dan Quinn disliked the offense enough to part with Kliff Kingsbury & Bobby Johnson but liked the offense enough to promote David Blough, Darnell Stapleton & Shane Toub,” podcast host Al Galdi wrote on X. “Not saying any of this is wrong (there’s a lot we don’t know), but this is an unusual offensive-staff revamp.”
“The Commanders promote Darnell Stapleton as their offensive line coach,” NFL reporter Inigo Maisterrena wrote on X. “He is 40 years old and has a good relationship with David Blough. Both share aligned ideas on scheme and type of blocks, which is fundamental in an OC-OLC relationship.”
Blough is the biggest wild card of the bunch, as he’ll be put in charge of the career of quarterback and former No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, who missed 10 games in 2025 due to injuries.
“Blough played four seasons of quarterback in the NFL before making the transition to coach,” Heavy.com’s Justin Platt wrote after Blough was hired on January 9. “In his time playing, his last destination was with the Arizona Cardinals, but the three years prior were spent in Detroit with former offensive coordinator and now head coach of the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson.”
Stapleton’s Path to Becoming Super Bowl Champion
Stapleton didn’t take the typical path to becoming a Super Bowl champion after going undrafted out of Rutgers in 2007. He made the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent then became a surprise starter in 2008 when Kendall Simmons was injured.
Following the injury to Simmons, Stapleton started the final 12 regular-season games for the Steelers and 3 playoff games, including a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Stapleton played 3 seasons for the Steelers and 1 season for the New England Patriots before knee injuries ended his career and he went into coaching.
Commanders Promote Super Bowl Champion on Coaching Staff