It’s time for the Senior Bowl, where some of the top prospects from the upcoming NFL Draft will gather in Mobile, Alabama, to meet with representatives from all 32 NFL teams. Prospects will begin reporting to Mobile over the weekend, with practices set to begin on Monday and the Senior Bowl set to be held on Jan. 31.
The coaching staff is much different than in previous years. In the past, two teams with high draft picks would coach two Senior Bowl teams. Now, the coaching staff is made up of assistants from around the league. This is both a showcase opportunity for players heading to the NFL and an opportunity for coaches to showcase their abilities and further develop their careers.
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For the Washington Commanders, two of their coaches will coach the national team in Mobile. Recently promoted offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton and assistant defensive backs coach William Gay.
Stapleton will enter his third season in Washington in 2026. After serving as Bobby Johnson’s assistant offensive line coach the past two seasons, commanders thought he was ready to take over the room. Stapleton was praised for his ability to develop young players.
Gay, an 11-year NFL cornerback, will enter his third season in Washington in 2026. Gay turned to coaching almost immediately after his career ended in 2018. Stapleton is also an NFL veteran, having played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, Gay and Stapleton were teammates for three seasons with Stapleton in Pittsburgh, one of which ended with a Super Bowl victory.
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The Commanders own the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, so their coach in Mobile could give the team some much-needed insight into which players to select in April’s draft.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 2 assistant coaches coach Senior Bowl.
