Commanders' Kliff Kingsbury Praises 'Brightest' Assistant QB Coach David Blough

Washington Commanders assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough started two games for Kliff Kingsbury in 2022 when he was the Arizona Cardinals head coach.

Having the right staff and structure on offense will be imperative for the Washington Commanders if they're going to escape quarterback purgatory. 

One move that flew under the radar but can be pivotal to the development of a young quarterback was the hiring of assistant quarterback coach David Blough to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's staff. Blough, who is just 28 years old, played five seasons in the NFL before retiring this season to enter the coaching ranks with the Commanders. 

Jan 1, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback David Blough (17) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Blough started five games for the Detroit Lions in 2019 and two for the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 when Kingsbury was the head coach. Though their time together in Arizona was brief, Blough left a lasting impression on Kingsbury, and the Commanders offensive coordinator said he wouldn't be surprised if the quarterback-turned-assistant flies up the coaching ranks. 

"Very smart," Kingsbury said of Blough. "I remember we got him in Arizona for a couple [of] weeks, and he probably knew the offense better than I did after two weeks. He is one of the brightest quarterbacks I've ever been around. Great rapport [with] the players, and I love his temperament. I think whoever the quarterback is, he'll be great to be around him and just how he sees the game, how he talks, protections, how he talks [and] progressions because he never gets too high or too low. I think he's got a chance to move up really quickly in this profession.”

Blough started seven games in his career and went 0-7. He threw for 1,435 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions. 

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Blough returned to the Lions for his final season and saw one of the top offenses in football and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson operate. That environment can pay dividends for Blough as he enters his first year as a coach and potentially coaching a rookie quarterback. 

If Blough is a reliable coach and can help mentor a rookie or young quarterback, it'd go a long way toward helping the Commanders find their franchise guy under center and help him progress his coaching career.