The Washington Commanders announced today they have named Tom Donatell as the team's defensive backs coach.
Donatell joins the Commanders after most recently serving as the defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
From 2021-22, Donatell was an assistant secondary coach with the Chargers. In 2022, Donatell worked closely with safety Derwin James Jr. who earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro Associated Press honors and was the only defensive back to record at least 110 tackles, four sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
In addition to James Jr., Donatell worked with cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr. and Michael Davis. Davis set a career hit in passes defensed (15) including a league-best 14 over the final 10 games of the season. Samuel Jr. recorded three passes in the teams postseason game which is tied for the second-most in a single postseason game in NFL history.
In 2021, James Jr. became the first defensive back in the last 20 years to have 100 tackles after missing the previous year due to an injury.
Prior to working in Los Angeles, Donatell was a defensive quality control coach for the Seattle Seahawks for four seasons (2017-20).
Before coaching in the NFL, Donatell served as a graduate assistant at UCLA (2015-16) and the University of South Florida (2013-14).
Donatell played linebacker and safety at the University of Iowa from 2008-12.
Donatell and his wife, Rebecca, have three sons Drake, Jack and Bennett.
