The Washington Commanders have fired tight ends coach Ben Steele following a DWI arrest last month, the team confirmed.
Steele was placed on administrative leave after the Commanders were informed of the incident. He faces charges for DWI, refusing a blood/breath test, obstructing or resisting an officer without force, and changing course without signaling, according to Virginia court records.
The team stated they would be "parting ways" with Steele before his first season with the franchise officially begins. The Commanders are expected to name his replacement before training camp, which is scheduled to start the day after his expected replacement announcement.
Wes Welker, a former receiver for the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, served as the Commanders' interim tight ends coach during Steele's administrative leave over the offseason minicamp.
Steele, a veteran tight ends coach, previously spent three seasons in the same role with the Arizona Cardinals before joining Dan Quinn's staff in Washington. During his tenure with the Cardinals, tight end Trey McBride emerged as one of the league's top players at the position, earning two Pro Bowls and over 1,100 receiving yards in consecutive seasons. McBride was also named a first-team All-Pro in the most recent season.
Steele's coaching career began after his playing days, which included time with the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans from 2004-06. He also had stints with college football programs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting as an offensive quality control coach in 2014 before being promoted to tight ends coach in 2017. His coaching experience also includes time with the Atlanta Falcons (2019-2020), Minnesota Vikings (2021), and Denver Broncos (2022).
The Commanders recently signed Chig Okonkwo this offseason to bolster their tight end group. Last season, John Bates and Ben Sinnott were featured at the position for Washington. The team finished with a 5-12 record, partly due to injuries, including to quarterback Jayden Daniels, who played only seven games. The Commanders aim to replicate their 12-5 record from 2024, a season in which Daniels received Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.