Commanders Dismiss Tight Ends Coach Ben Steele After DWI Incident
WHO:
CBS Sports - Ben Steele was set to enter his first season with the Commanders after spending the past three years as the Arizona Cardinals' tight ends coach.
CBS Sports - Steele helped Trey McBride establish himself as one of the NFL's best tight ends, with McBride setting a positional record by catching 126 passes in 2025.
Hogs Haven - Head coach Dan Quinn is expected to speak with the media on Tuesday and could announce Steele’s replacement at that time.
NBC Sports - Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reported that Steele notified the Commanders about his arrest.
Hogs Haven - David Raih was the previous tight ends coach before being promoted to offensive pass game coordinator.
Newsweek - Ben Steele, tight ends coach for the Washington Commanders.
NY Post - Ben Steele, 48 years old, previously hired by the Washington Commanders after three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Heavy NFL - Ben Steele, former assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and tight ends coach for the Washington Commanders.
Hogs Haven - Dan Quinn, head coach of the Washington Commanders.
WHAT:
NBC Sports - The Commanders announced the departure of tight ends coach Ben Steele on Monday morning.
NBC Sports - Quinn is expected to name a replacement tight ends coach on Tuesday, which is also when the full Commanders squad is due to report to training camp.
NBC Sports - Steele was placed on paid leave following his arrest.
Hogs Haven - The Washington Commanders announced they would not comment further on the situation regarding Ben Steele's dismissal.
Newsweek - The Washington Commanders fired tight ends coach Ben Steele just two days before the start of training camp.
NY Post - Ben Steele was fired following a DWI arrest.
Hogs Haven - Steele was dismissed for violating team policy.
Hogs Haven - Steele faces additional charges for refusing a field blood/breath test, obstruction/resisting arrest without force, and changing course without a signal.
WHERE:
Hogs Haven - Virginia court records indicate the location of Steele's DWI arrest.
WHEN:
NBC Sports - The full Commanders squad is due to report to training camp on Tuesday.
Hogs Haven - Ben Steele was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated on June 7.
Hogs Haven - The Commanders are set to open training camp this week.
WHY:
Hogs Haven - Steele was dismissed for violating team policy.
HOW:
CBS Sports - Quinn revamped his coaching staff following Washington's disappointing 5-12 campaign, changing offensive coordinators and firing defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
Hogs Haven - Offensive assistant Wes Welker coached the tight ends during the mandatory minicamp in Steele's absence, and he was also not available for the team’s media availability on June 10th.
NBC Sports - Offensive assistant Wes Welker worked with the tight ends at minicamp while Steele was on leave.
Hogs Haven - Offensive assistant Wes Welker coached the tight ends during the mandatory minicamp in Steele's absence, and he was also not available for the team’s media availability on June 10th.
Hogs Haven - Offensive assistant Wes Welker coached the tight ends during the mandatory minicamp in Steele's absence.
(UPDATED July 28, 2026 01:24 UTC)
Ben Steele is gearing up for his first season with the Commanders after three years as the tight ends coach for the Arizona Cardinals, where he played a key role in helping Trey McBride become one of the NFL's top tight ends, setting a record with 126 catches in 2025. In a bid to turn things around after a disappointing 5-12 season, Coach Quinn has revamped his coaching staff, which included changing offensive coordinators and parting ways with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. This shake-up reflects the team's commitment to improving their performance in the upcoming season.
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(UPDATED July 27, 2026 20:21 UTC)
The Commanders announced the departure of tight ends coach Ben Steele on Monday morning, and head coach Dan Quinn is expected to speak with the media on Tuesday, potentially naming Steele’s replacement at that time. On the same day, the full Commanders squad is scheduled to report to training camp, with offensive assistant Wes Welker having coached the tight ends during the mandatory minicamp in Steele's absence. Welker was also unavailable for the team’s media availability on June 10th.
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(UPDATED July 27, 2026 19:25 UTC)
Steele has notified the Commanders about his recent arrest, leading to his placement on paid leave. As the team prepares for training camp, which is set to begin on Tuesday, offensive assistant Wes Welker has been working with the tight ends during Steele's absence. The Commanders are gearing up for a busy season ahead as they navigate this situation.
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(UPDATED July 27, 2026 18:24 UTC)
The Washington Commanders have announced they will not provide any further comments regarding the dismissal of Ben Steele. In the meantime, David Raih has been promoted from tight ends coach to offensive pass game coordinator, while Wes Welker stepped in to coach the tight ends during mandatory minicamp but was unavailable for media on June 10. This shift in coaching staff comes as the team continues to navigate changes in their organization.
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(UPDATED July 27, 2026 17:31 UTC)
The Washington Commanders have fired tight ends coach Ben Steele just two days before the start of training camp, following his DWI arrest on June 7. Steele, who previously worked with the Arizona Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was dismissed for violating team policy and faces additional charges related to his arrest. In his absence, offensive assistant Wes Welker stepped in to coach the tight ends during the mandatory minicamp.