Following the acquisition of the Washington Commanders by Josh Harris, the new owner signaled a desire for a cultural shift within the organization. After facing challenges and finishing the season with a disappointing 4-13 record, the commanders are now determined to prioritize efforts toward transforming their culture for the better.
As the new season approaches, the Commanders wasted no time in making changes to their coaching staff. After announcing the addition of three coaches on Monday, they continued their recruitment efforts by bringing David Raih on board just one day later.
Commanders hire David Raih as their new TE coach
On Tuesday, the Washington team announced the hiring of David Raih as their tight ends coach. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to strengthen their coaching staff and improve player performance in the upcoming season.
His coaching career in the NFL started with the Green Bay Packers after he joined the NFL ranks in 2014. The 43-year-old steadily climbed the coaching ladder. His journey in Green Bay included roles as a coaching administrator, assistant offensive line coach, offensive perimeter coach, and eventually, wide receivers coach. Overall, he spent five years with the Packers.
He most recently worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is among several alterations made to the Bucs’ staff this season after the departure of Dave Canales. The recent staff changes in Washington extend beyond Raih’s appointment. The Commanders are also set to welcome Bobby Johnson as the offensive line coach and Ken Norton Jr. as the linebackers coach.
Commanders reunites David Raih and Kliff Kingsbury
David Raih brings a wealth of experience to the Washington Commanders as their new tight ends coach, especially given his history with the team’s offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury.
This familiarity stems from their time together at Texas Tech, where Raih served as the assistant quarterback coach and outside receivers coach under Kingsbury’s leadership during the 2013 season.
Their coaching partnership continued when Kingsbury moved to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, with Raih joining him as the wide receivers coach. During his tenure in Arizona, he worked with star receivers Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins, helping both achieve remarkable success on the field.
Under his wings, Hopkins earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Despite his success with the Cardinals, he later ventured into the college ranks, serving as the offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt for one season.
However, his return to the NFL with the Commanders marks a reunion with Kingsbury. Recently, Kingsbury accepted the position of offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, joining the team under the leadership of new head coach Dan Quinn. Initially, he had received a similar job offer from the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Kingsbury opted to decline the Raiders’ offer and instead chose to join the Commanders coaching staff.
Now, with their previous work history and vast knowledge, the coaching duo is expected to let the Commanders have a revamped team in the upcoming season.
