Commanders Fire Tight Ends Coach Ben Steele Just Before Training Camp Opens

A New Hire Gone Before the Season Even Starts

The Washington Commanders fired tight ends coach Ben Steele on Monday, just two days before training camp was set to begin — and more than a month after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The abrupt dismissal means a coach the team brought in specifically to develop one of its most important offensive positions never made it to a single regular-season snap on the sideline.

Steele, 48, was hired by the Commanders in February after coaching tight ends for three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals under Jonathan Gannon. During his tenure in Arizona, he played a key role in the development of Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride, who emerged as one of the NFL's top players at the position. His hiring was considered a meaningful addition to head coach Dan Quinn's offensive staff, and his résumé suggested he was ready to step into a prominent role in Washington.

What the Arrest Records Show

On June 7 in Loudoun County, Virginia — where the Commanders train — Steele was charged with DWI after he was observed changing course after a signal. He was also charged with obstruction and resisting without force, and according to court documents, he refused a blood/breath test. Steele was stopped at 1:15 a.m. near the Commanders' facility. The Sheriff's department determined he was intoxicated, and he was arrested and transported to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

A source familiar with the matter said Steele informed the Commanders of the arrest and was subsequently placed on administrative leave, with the organization notifying the NFL. Wes Welker, who had been on the Washington staff as a personnel analyst and offensive assistant, coached tight ends during minicamp while Steele was on leave. Steele was initially arraigned in July, and his next court date is scheduled for August 13.

The Team's Response and What Comes Next

In a brief official statement, the Commanders said: "We are parting ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele," noting that the team would "have no further comment at this time." Steele was let go because of a violation of team policy, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal team matters. The organization did not publicly connect the firing to the arrest, but the timing and circumstances left little room for ambiguity.

The Commanders' rookies had already reported to training camp last week, with veterans set to report to the team facility in Ashburn, Virginia, on Tuesday. Coach Dan Quinn was expected to announce a replacement tight ends coach when he addressed the media today. Prior to his three seasons with the Cardinals, Steele had assistant coaching stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, and Denver Broncos.

A Costly Distraction at a Critical Moment

The episode highlights how quickly an off-field decision can derail a promising career — and create real headaches for a franchise with bigger ambitions. Washington enters the 2026 season with legitimate playoff expectations, and stability on the coaching staff matters. Losing a position coach days before camp opens forces a scramble for a replacement and disrupts the continuity that tight ends — a position requiring complex route-running and blocking assignments — depend on heading into a new season.

The Commanders' previous tight ends coach, David Raih, was promoted to offensive pass game coordinator when David Blough got the promotion to offensive coordinator , which is why Steele was brought in to begin with. Now Washington must fill the same hole twice in one offseason. How quickly Quinn and his staff can find the right person — and how smoothly that coach can integrate into the system — could have real consequences once the games count.