Former All-Pro WR Wes Welker Joins Dan Quinn's Commanders Staff as TEs Coach

Wes Welker, a 12-year NFL wide receiver who made five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro First Teams, will coach tight ends for the Washington Commanders this season.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told that news to reporters (h/t ESPN's John Keim) on Tuesday at his pre-training camp press conference with general manager Adam Peters.

Welker's appointment arose a day after the Commanders announced that they parted ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele.

The 45-year-old Welker joined Quinn's staff as a personnel analyst in 2025, and he was promoted to offensive assistant this season. Per Keim, Welker was already working with the team's tight ends before this new assignment.

Quinn added, per Keim, that the team hasn't yet decided on Welker's official title as of yet.

Welker played in the NFL from 2004-2015 with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams, carving out an amazing career after going undrafted out of Texas Tech.

He led the NFL in receptions on three occasions and had at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in five of his seasons. Welker also helped three of his teams (the 2007 and 2011 Patriots and 2013 Broncos) win AFC titles.

Welker has been coaching in the NFL since 2017. He served as an offensive and special teams assistant for the Houston Texans in 2017 and 2018 before moving to the San Francisco 49ers to be their wide receivers coach from 2019-2021. Welker held the same role for the Miami Dolphins from 2022-2024.

Now he'll be leading the tight ends in Washington. Chig Okonkwo leads the depth chart after the ex-Tennessee Titan signed a three-year, $27 million contract in free agency this offseason. John Bates, Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff also return from last year's squad.