Commanders' Brian Johnson Part of 'Most Unique and Strong' QB Room

The Washington Commanders brought a lot of quarterback knowledge onto their coaching staff, including former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

New Washington Commanders assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Brian Johnson (left) speaks with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (right). / Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

ORLANDO -- The Washington Commanders represent an area where many people from different geographic locations merge to run the country, and if they have it their way the new-look team will be very similar.

At the top of the chain you have Commanders managing partner Josh Harris who is a local with childhood memories of RFK Stadium and the 'good old days', but like anybody in the DMV finds themselves on a daily basis, he's since surrounded himself with outsiders.

From the West Coast he brought in new Washington general manager Adam Peters. From Texas comes coach Dan Quinn. And from northeast of D.C. - among other additions - comes assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Brian Johnson who joined the Commanders after leaving the Philadelphia Eagles organization.

New Washington Commanders assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Brian Johnson (left) speaks with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (right). / Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

“Number one, I've known Brian for a while. I followed his time through when he was at the [University of Florida] Gators and saw all the work that he did with the offense there," coach Quinn said about Johnson. "I've had a chance to compete against him over the last few years. And so, we were very intentional, in terms of the offensive side regarding [Offensive Coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] and Brian and [Quarterbacks Coach] Tavita [Pritchard] and [Assistant Quarterbacks Coach] David [Blough] and making sure from the quarterback standpoint that we just had the most unique and strong setup as we possibly could. So, I've been super impressed by him. I had high expectations about what he would be about going into it and now getting to work with him, I've really been impressed.”

Johnson's name was among the hottest this time last offseason as he stepped into the vacant offensive coordinator position for the Eagles after Shane Steichen left to be the Indianapolis Colts' head coach.

His connection and experience with quarterback Jalen Hurts was supposed to help maintain if not improve that offense, but ultimately fell flat amidst turnovers, frustrated stars, and a general sense of disconnection in Philadelphia.

While the process may have fallen apart for the Eagles in 2023, it doesn't mean each individual piece is tainted and doomed to fail for the rest of football eternity, and in Johnson the Commanders see someone who knows how to tailor a passing game for the quarterback's strengths. Something they'll need in short order if and when a quarterback is drafted early by Washington in the upcoming NFL Draft.

As has been the message this offseason, it won't be on Johnson alone, or offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, or any one coach to get it right. The pressure will be on everyone, as is the decision on the best course of action.

“I think we did that collaboratively, like what are we all looking for," Quinn says. "Because as you guys all know, it's not like that comes in one size fits all. And so, I think the best of the best can find out what strengths a person has at any position and make sure you can tailor some things suited just for that person. So, Brian certainly did that in Philadelphia, he did that in Florida and would do that again here, knowing what somebody's real strengths are and how do you max those out.”

With members of each NFC East Division rival coming to Washington this offseason the organization has already maxed out it's knowledge of key opponents. And if knowledge is power then that's a significant weapon, just like the new quarterback could become if all the brainpower in that room lands on the right formula for early success.