Darnell Stapleton leaving Florida for Washington Commanders
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton will be leaving the Gators for a job in the NFL with the Washington Commanders.. He spent two years at UF and was part of Billy Napier’s first staff. Stapleton has been hired as the Commanders assistant offensive line coach, according to the team’s website.
The move comes less than a month before the Gators open spring practice and leaves the coaching staff with a vacancy for its 10 on field assistant.
Former Gators defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was recently hired as the 31st head coach of the Washington Commanders. Quinn served as Florida’s DC from 2011-2012. Quinn and the Commanders announced their completed staff, which included Stapleton, on Thursday.
During his first year as Florida’s offensive line coach, Stapleton worked alongside offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Rob Sale and contributed heavily toward a powerful run offense. The Gators finished the 2022 regular season as the third-most productive offense in the nation and best in the conference in yards per carry (5.84). Florida ran the ball for an average of 213.7 yards per game in 2022, which ranked 16th in the FBS and third in the SEC.
Stapleton was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007 to 2010 and was on the squad that won Super Bowl XLIII at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign. He started 18 games on the offensive line during his time in Pittsburgh, including the Super Bowl. Overall, he played in 26 career games with the Steelers.
Stapleton’s coaching career started in 2011 with the New York Sharks, a women’s professional football team. He followed that stint with one season coaching both the offensive and defensive lines at Montclair Kimberly Academy. The squad posted a 9-2 mark, surpassing the program record for wins by three.
Stapleton has coached three NFL Draft selections in O’Cyrus Torrence (2023, Florida), Max Mitchell (2022, Louisiana) and Julien Davenport (2017, Bucknell).
Darnell Stapleton coaching history
| Year | School, Position (Record as HC) |
| 2024-present | Washington Commanders Assistant Offensive Line Coach |
| 2022-2024. | Florida, Assistant Coach/Offensive Line Coach |
| 2021 | Louisiana, Offensive Line Coach |
| 2017-2020 | Sam Houston State, Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line |
| 2014-2017 | Bucknell, Offensive Line Coach |
| 2014 | Pace, Offensive Line Coach |
| 2013-2014 | Rutgers, Graduate Assistant |
| 2012 | Montclair Kimberly Academy, Offensive and Defensive Line Coach |
| 2011 | New York Sharks, Head Coach (5-3) |
