Dylan Thompson hired by Washington Commanders in team development role

The Washington Commanders are adding a key piece to their player development staff this week. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Commanders have hired former South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson away from the Houston Texans. With the Texans, Thompson was the director of team development. He’ll assume a similar role in D.C. where the Commanders are breaking in new rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Thompson received extensive praise from Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud at the end of the 2023 season. Stroud won the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award after leading Houston to a 10-7 finish atop the AFC South.

“I think I grew tremendously, man,” Stroud said in an end-of-season press conference. “I know he’s going to be mad at me for this, Dylan Thompson. Oh my gosh, Dylan is one of the best human beings that I’ve ever met in my life. There’s a ton of people, great people in this organization, but DT has been the main person.

“You talk about a brother like to somebody who loves you no matter what happens on that field, you can feel that. I just appreciate that and now he’s going to be mad at me, but, man, he’s a great person, and really one of the reasons why I feel like we were very successful this year.”

Thompson lands new role with Commanders

It seems the Commanders would like to replicate Thompson’s success with Stroud in Houston as they endeavor into a new era with Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels. Before his time with the Texans, Thompson was a character coach for the Detroit Lions until head coach Dan Campbell began his tenure in 2021. He also previously served as director of player development for men’s basketball at Charleston Southern.

An undrafted rookie free agent out of South Carolina, Thompson landed in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015. He then joined the Los Angeles Rams before entering the coaching ranks.

While at South Carolina, Thompson played for famed head coach Steve Spurrier. He led the SEC in passing yards in his senior season, finishing his career with 5,401 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Thompson’s move to D.C. brings him much closer to his home in South Carolina, though it’s clear his career is only just beginning. He will turn 33 in October.