Ben Standig
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Ben Standig
@benstandig.bsky.social
Commanders/NFL reporter | "Last Man Standig" Substack and podcast | @team980 | Prior - The Athletic | Armed with hoops opinions | Rockin' & Rollin' & whatnot
Pinned
I did a thing. New home for my written Commanders coverage. I'm excited for everyone to join the adventure. First up, the mission statement for "Last Man Standig."
The Commanders are hiring Falcons QB coach D.J. Williams, the son of Doug Williams, for their open QB coach role, source confirms.

Wrote about this possibility earlier in the week.

lastmanstandig.substack.com/p/the-comman...
The Commanders moved fast on David Blough. Now comes the waiting game
Inside Washington's coaching staff build as defensive coordinator candidates trickle through Ashburn.
lastmanstandig.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:29 AM
🎙️Guest: @Coach_JayGruden

🏈Insight into a young OC from the man who hired 28-year-old Sean McVay for that job
🏈The Kliff debate
🏈Filling out the staff
🏈NFL playoffs

Also, how traffic from 9 head coach openings is slowing down Washington's DC search

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...
Jay Gruden talks Commanders OC swap; DC search traffic
Podcast Episode · Last Man Standig · 01/14/2026 · 54m
podcasts.apple.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:26 AM
The #Commanders interviewed former Washington WR coach Drew Terrell for their OC opening, source confirms. @RapSheet 1st.

Terrwll is the Cardinals passing game coordinator/WRs coach.
January 9, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Whether Dan Quinn seeks an experienced play-caller or a familiar face for Jayden Daniels, Washington's head coach has fascinating OC options.

On Mike McDaniel, David Blough and the Commanders' OC debate.
lastmanstandig.substack.com/p/mike-mcdan...
Mike McDaniel and David Blough headline Commanders' offensive coordinator search
Whether Dan Quinn seeks an experienced play-caller or a familiar face for Jayden Daniels, Washington's head coach has options.
lastmanstandig.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Statement from a Commanders spokesperson on Marshon Lattimore's arrest:

“We have been made aware of the arrest and are gathering more information. We have informed the NFL League Office and have no further comment at this time.”

Arrest details on weapons charges. share.google/e36C8koTqnzB...
Cleveland's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Cleveland, Ohio | wkyc.com
The latest news, sports, weather and traffic from WKYC 3 Studios for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
wkyc.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:22 PM
🎙 The latest on the #Commanders coordinator searches + 49ers insider @mattbarrows with insight into the latest iteration of the Shanahan offense, what happened with Brandon Aiyuk in SF and NFC playoffs.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
Last Man Standig
Football Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Ben Standig of The Athletic brings his unique insight and reporting covering the Washington Commanders, Washington Wizards and other DC Sports teams. He also shar...
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January 8, 2026 at 1:58 PM
ALERT: Will go live at 6 p.m. ET with @MarkBullockNFL to discuss the coordinator changes, best fit for Jayden Daniels moving forward and other Commanders *buzz.* Join us.
lastmanstandig.substack.com
Last Man Standig | Ben Standig | Substack
Longtime Washington Commanders insider and D.C. sports reporter still grinding and thriving on the football beat. DMV native. Been known to mock a draft. Click to read Last Man Standig, by Ben Standig...
lastmanstandig.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Ben Standig
HERE IT IS!

Your first all-access super deep dive into #Survivor50, including interviews in Fiji with the cast and the first exclusive game and gallery photos. Spent a LOT of time on this one. Hope you all enjoy! #Survivor ew.com/survivor-50-...
On the beach for 'Survivor 50': An exclusive, all-access first look at the biggest season ever
EW joins 'Survivor 50' players, producers, and Jeff Probst in Fiji to get the inside scoop on the biggest season ever of the most influential reality-competition show in TV history.
ew.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
The Commanders need a new defensive coordinator. Based on conversations with numerous league sources in recent weeks, here are some names to consider for Washington.

open.substack.com/pub/lastmans...
Commanders' defensive coordinator search: Will Dan Quinn go outside his coaching tree?
Washington's defensive collapse helped crater the season. DC Joe Whitt Jr. took the hit. Now the focus shifts to potential replacements and whether their scheme meshes with Quinn's historic plans.
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Washington GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn took questions from media members on what went wrong this season and what upcoming fixes are. In light of the specifics within their responses, I played the role of interpreter.

What they said, what I heard:

open.substack.com/pub/lastmans...
What they said, what I heard: Adam Peters, Dan Quinn on the Commanders' lost 2025 season
Washington's GM and head coach took questions from media members on what went wrong this season and upcoming fixes. In light of specifics within their responses, LMS played the role of interpreter.
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:34 PM
🎙Talking about the Commanders closing out the 2025 season/moving into the offseason a 1/4 mile at a time. You'll see.

Beat Philly. Draft order lament. Kingsbury's status. Bobby Wagner's mikestone. Prepping for Monday's Peters-Quinn press conference.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Commanders head into the offseason
Podcast Episode · Last Man Standig · 01/05/2026 · 30m
podcasts.apple.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Ben Standig
Twelve months ago, Kliff Kingsbury’s tempo gave Washington a clear identity.

Now the organization is weighing whether that identity still fits.

That’s a meaningful change — and a telling one.

What I'm hearing and thinking about the Commanders' OC role.

open.substack.com/pub/lastmans...
January 4, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Twelve months ago, Kliff Kingsbury’s tempo gave Washington a clear identity.

Now the organization is weighing whether that identity still fits.

That’s a meaningful change — and a telling one.

What I'm hearing and thinking about the Commanders' OC role.

open.substack.com/pub/lastmans...
January 4, 2026 at 3:53 PM
As expected, Mariota and Laremy Tunsil are officially out for Sunday, and Josh Johnson will start at Philly.
January 2, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Miami-Ohio State about to kickoff. 3 potential top 10 picks in this game. An NFL college scouting director shared his insights earlier this year:
Last Man Standig | Ben Standig | Substack
Longtime Washington Commanders insider and D.C. sports reporter still grinding and thriving on the football beat. DMV native. Been known to mock a draft. Click to read Last Man Standig, by Ben Standig...
lastmanstandig.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Dan Quinn on Quan Martin's declining snaps (season-low 30% last game):

"There was a busted assignment that eliminated some of his reps."

Said he still has confidence in the third-year safety.
December 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Josh Johnson would start at Philly if Marcus Mariota is out.

LT Laremy Tunsil (oblique) would be unable to play if Washington played today, Quinn said. Tunsil sat out the prior two games.

DT Daron Payne (back) participated in Monday's walk through, a good sign for the Eagles game, Quinn said.
December 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Dan Quinn time.

C Tyler Biadasz (ankle/knee) does not require surgery on his injuries, but is unlikely to play Sunday.

QB Marcus Mariota (quad/hand) has yet to move at full speed, meaning his availability in Philly is TBD.
December 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Stats and numbers that exposed Washington’s thin margins, fading depth and emphasize some reasons for optimism.

open.substack.com/pub/lastmans...
The numbers that hurt, and the ones that hint at what’s next for the Commanders
Stats that exposed Washington’s thin margins, fading depth and emphasize some reasons for optimism.
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Commanders at Eagles kicks off at 4:25 p.m. in Philly on Sunday.
December 29, 2025 at 5:28 AM
🚨 Join me and @markbullocknfl.bsky.social at noon for a live chat on my Substack site. Hope from Commanders' kids. One week remaining. Offseason plans. Your questions. See you then.

open.substack.com/chat/posts/2...
Ben Standig in Last Man Standig
Live chat w/ Ben and Mark Bullock - 12 p.m. ET on Substack Good morning on this no Commanders Sunday. Before the remaining Week 17 action kicks off, please join me and film analyst Mark Bullock for an...
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Fallout from the Commanders-Eagles fracas:

* Javon Kinlaw fined $20,288
* Will Harris, $11,593
* Quan Martin, $11,572
* Mike Sainristil, $9 725

Eagles OL Tyler Steen fined $16,870. Split between unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike infractions.
December 27, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Snap counts, Week 17:

🏈 The official split is 41 for Washington’s offense and 87 for the defense. Factor in dead plays and it's 44 to 92

🏈 Johnny Newton set a season-high with 61%. Daron Payne sidelined opened opportunities but still the first time over 43% in 2025

⤵️
December 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) has been added to the Commanders injury report. He is questionable for today's game.
December 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM