Former Lions QB David Blough Retires, Takes Coaching Job with Commanders

David Blough is plowing a new path forward.

The veteran quarterback announced his retirement and immediately took on a coaching position with the Washington Commanders, per a release from the team. Blough will serve as the assistant quarterbacks coach under Tavita Pritchard on the staff of head coach Dan Quinn.

Blough built a four-season career after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Purdue in 2019. He is perhaps best known for making his first career start on that ensuing Thanksgiving as a member of the Detroit Lions.

The first completion of his professional career was a 75-yard scoring toss to Kenny Golliday against the Chicago Bears. By finding Marvin Jones for another, he became just the 29th undrafted quarterback in NFL history to throw for two touchdowns in his first career start (and the first Lions thrower to do it since 2002).

Blough would make five starts in relief of the injured Matthew Stafford in 2019, throwing for 984 yards and four touchdowns. He spent two more seasons as a reserve passer in Detroit before moving on to Arizona in 2022, where he made two more starts when Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy went down for the Cardinals. Blough spent all of this season on the Lions' practice squad.

In Washington, Blough will likely help develop a new franchise quarterback. The Commanders are set to move on from incumbent Sam Howell and could well use the second overall pick of the coming draft on a passer after a 4-13 season.

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Blough is married to Colombian-American track-and-field champion Melissa Gonzalez and his brother-in-law Christian remains in the NFL as a defender for the New England Patriots.