– Darnell Stapleton is promoted to offensive line coach, and Shane Toub moves up to assistant offensive line coach. Stapleton has built a close working bond with new OC David Blough over the last two years, focusing on game plans and protections.
– Stapleton’s journey is a classic underdog story: undrafted in 2007, he started for the Steelers in 2008 and helped them win Super Bowl XLIII before knee injuries nudged him toward coaching.
– Shane Toub, the son of legendary special teams coach Dave Toub, brings fresh energy and a strong football lineage to the OL room. He’ll team with Stapleton in shaping the line play.
– The moves come after a surprising coaching overhaul following a 5-12 finish, part of an unusual staff revamp that followed Dan Quinn parting with Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt.
– Blough is the wildcard guiding the offense, tasked with mentoring quarterback Jayden Daniels, who missed 10 games in 2025 due to injuries. Blough himself spent NFL years at quarterback before moving into coaching.
– Key takeaway: With Staples and Toub aligned with Blough, the Commanders are betting on a cohesive OC-OLC relationship to bolster protection, blocking schemes, and overall offensive identity for a potential bounce-back season 📊⚡.
