The Washington Commanders fired tight ends coach Ben Steele on Monday following his arrest last month for suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI).
“We are parting ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele. The team will have no further comment at this time,” the team posted on X.
We are parting ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele. The team will have no further comment at this time.
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 27, 2026
ESPN shared further:
On June 7 in Loudoun County, Virginia — where the Commanders train — Steele was charged with DWI after he was observed to “change course after signal,” according to Loudoun County General District Court.
Steele also was charged with obstruction/resisting without force. According to court documents, Steele refused a blood/breath test. He was released on his own recognizance.
Steele was officially fired for a violation of team policy.
ADVERTISEMENTThe incident occurred during a time when the Commanders were still holding spring practices. He was placed on leave by the team, according to a team source, and missed the final two OTA workouts as well as minicamp the following week.
During that period, Wes Welker, an offensive assistant, and David Raih, who was their tight ends coach the past two years but was promoted to pass game coordinator, worked with the position group.
Before joining the Commanders, Steele worked with the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.
Steele played in the NFL from 2001 to 2006, spending time with six organizations during his playing career.
Former Commanders tight ends coach Ben Steele was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated on June 7 in Loudoun County, according to Virginia court records.
He also faces charges for refusing a blood or breath test and obstructing or resisting an officer without force. https://t.co/NwLC579Ja6 pic.twitter.com/fbWzfaP1kM
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 27, 2026
More from the New York Post:
Commanders training camp begins on Wednesday.
Steele, 48, was hired this past winter after spending three seasons in the same role for the Cardinals.
He has previously served as the assistant offensive line coach for the Broncos and Vikings, and also coached tight ends for the Vikings and Bucs.
During Steele’s time in Arizona, tight end Trey McBride blossomed into the leading receiver among tight ends and finished with more than 1,100 yards in the last two seasons.
ADVERTISEMENTSteele would have been tasked with helping Chig Okonkwo, John Bates and Ben Sinnott in Washington.
The Commanders slumped to a 5-12 record last year following Jayden Daniels’ tremendous rookie season and a trip to the conference championship game the year before.
