It did not take long for Wes Welker to find another NFL coaching job. Less than three months after getting fired as the wide receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins, Welker has been scooped up by another franchise. On Monday, the Washington Commanders announced the hiring of Welker as personnel analyst, where he will join Dan Quinn’s staff and add an elite football mind.
Welker coached the Dolphins wide receivers from 2022-24 under Head Coach Mike McDaniel. After the team’s passing offense regressed majorly this past season and the Dolphins failed to make the playoffs, Welker was fired along with Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman as part of a reset heading into 2025.
Welker’s Coaching Career Thus Far
Following his retirement as a player after the 2015 season, Welker began his coaching career with the Houston Texans, serving as an offensive and special teams assistant from 2017-2018. After the ’18 season, Welker earned a promotion and was hired to be the wide receivers coach of the San Francisco 49ers under Kyle Shanahan. A role he served in from 2019-2021. During his time with the 49ers, he was instrumental in the development of Deebo Samuel.
After McDaniel was hired away from the 49ers to be the Dolphins’ head coach, Welker followed him and joined his staff ahead of the 2022 season where he joined Tyreek Hill and helped him record back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons. In his first two seasons in Miami, the team’s offense became potent and was crucial in the team’s consecutive playoff appearances. While still fairly early on in his coaching career, Welker’s time spent with the New England Patriots as a player and being able to learn under Bill Belichick could explain why he has been able to be such a vital asset to the coaching staff he has been a part of.
What He Brings To Washington
Joining Washington makes perfect sense for Welker. For starters, he will be working very closely with Offensive Coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury. They were college teammates at Texas Tech and will be reunited with General Manager Adam Peters. He worked in the 49ers’ front office while Welker served on the coaching staff. Also, Welker will once again get the chance to work with Samuel, who was traded by the 49ers to the Commanders this offseason in the hopes of a fresh start.
Last season, the Commanders came up just short of earning a spot in the Super Bowl after losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. While last season proved to be a Cinderella season for Washington, who had not made an NFC Championship Game appearance since the early 1990s, this season will be much different. The expectation will most likely be Super Bowl or bust. With a coach like Welker who brings a very knowledgeable football mind combined with his ability to connect with players, the Commanders mean business this season.
Final Thoughts
While Welker may not have a massive role with the Commanders, he will certainly play a big role in keeping the development going among the up-and-coming stars. With Quarterback Jayden Daniels putting together a dominant season en route to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, the offense will be the backbone of this season’s Commanders team as they look to get over the hump and get to the Super Bowl. Adding Welker’s perspective to the staff proves that they are willing to do whatever they can to reach that goal while also becoming a perennial contender for years to come.
