The Washington Commanders parted ways with offensive line coach John Matsko on Tuesday, multiple sources confirmed.
Matsko, 72, has been an offensive line coach in the NFL since 1992 with the then-Phoenix Cardinals. Matsko had been Washington’s offensive line coach since 2020. Matsko had been with head coach Ron Rivera since Rivera took over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2011.
Matsko is one of the more respected offensive line coaches in the NFL. The timing of this move is strange, considering most teams have their coaching staff in place before the new league year begins. However, new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy hired a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach last week. This move appears to be more of Bieniemy putting his final stamp on the offense.
According to Nicki Jhabvala and Sam Fortier of The Washington Post, many in the organization believed Matsko might retire after the 2022 season or that the Commanders could go in a different direction when Bieniemy took over. But, at the NFL combine two weeks ago, Washington used almost half of its 45 formal meetings on offensive linemen, with Matsko leading those meetings.
Assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton remains in place, as Washington hasn’t appointed a replacement for Matsko. Wharton played for and coached under Matsko. In January, Wharton coached the offensive line for one of the Senior Bowl teams.
The Commanders struggled on the offensive line last season, but that was more due to a lack of talent than Matsko’s coaching abilities. Washington failed to replace right guard Brandon Scherff and battled injuries at other positions, specifically at center.
On the first day of the legal tampering period, Monday, the Commanders agreed to terms with two offensive linemen.
