Washington Commanders hire recent Detroit Lions quarterback to work as assistant QB coach

A couple weeks after former Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was announced as the head coach at his former high school in Miami, Florida, a second Lions QB from last year's roster has transitioned into coaching. On Thursday, the Washington Commanders announced they've hired David Blough as an assistant quarterback coach.

Blough, 28, will work under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, reconnecting the two after the QB played for the coach in Arizona during the 2022 season.

Undrafted out of Purdue in 2019, Blough initially signed with the Cleveland Browns, but would spend most of his playing career in Detroit. The Lions acquired him via a trade following training camp his rookie year. He'd end up starting five games that season after Matthew Stafford suffered a season-ending injury.

Blough stayed with the Lions through the 2021 campaign, but was among the final roster cuts heading into the 2022 season. The team had hoped to keep him on the practice squad, but he chose to explore other opportunities, signing with the Vikings practice squad, prior to being poached by Kingsbury's Cardinals in December. He would go on to start two games at the end of that season.

Blough returned to the Lions this past season as part of the team's practice squad, where he played a behind-the-scenes role helping starter Jared Goff with his weekly preparation for the upcoming opponent.

For his career, Blough completed 57.0% of his passes for 1,435 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions. He unfortunately went winless in his seven starts.

As a coach, Blough shares some of the same inspirations as Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Both consider John Shoop, who served as an offensive coordinator for Johnson at North Carolina and Blough at Purdue, as their primary coaching influence.

Washington's new leadership will have a notable Lions flavor throughout its ranks. In addition to Blough, former Lions defensive end Darryl Tapp has been named defensive line coach, former Lions tight ends coach Bobby Johnson will lead the Commanders' offensive line, and former Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn will serve as the running backs coach and run-game coordinator.

In the front office, the Commanders hired Lions director of player personnel Lance Newmark to work as their assistant general manager, while former Lions GM Martin Mayhew is staying on as a senior personnel executive.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers