Overview
- The Washington Commanders announced Monday that they had parted ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele and said they would have no further comment.
- Virginia court records show Steele was arrested on June 7 in Loudoun County on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and faces additional charges for refusing a blood or breath test, obstructing or resisting an officer without force, and a traffic infraction, with a hearing set for Aug. 13.
- The team placed Steele on paid administrative leave after he informed them of the arrest, reported the matter to the NFL, and removed his bio from the team website before the public announcement.
- Offensive assistant Wes Welker, who worked with the tight ends during Steele’s absence at minicamp, was promoted on Tuesday to lead the tight ends to preserve continuity ahead of the season.
- The quick in-house replacement limits immediate disruption to the offense but raises questions about how the club enforces conduct rules, its public transparency, and whether the pending legal case will create further staff or reputational fallout.