The Washington Commanders have announced the termination of tight ends coach Ben Steele. This decision follows Steele’s recent arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Virginia. The team’s action was made public on Monday, just two days before the start of training camp.
Court records indicate that Steele was initially stopped on June 7 for a traffic infraction related to changing course after a signal. In addition to the driving while intoxicated charge, Steele is also facing charges for refusing a breath test and obstructing or resisting an officer without force.
Details of the Charges
The three charges against Steele—driving while intoxicated, refusing testing, and obstruction/resisting arrest—are all classified as class 1 misdemeanors in Virginia. A first-offense driving while intoxicated conviction can carry significant penalties, including up to 12 months in jail, a fine ranging from $250 to $2,500, and a one-year suspension of the driver’s license.
Steele was released on $5,000 bail. A hearing in Loudoun County District Court is scheduled for August 13. The arrest affidavit provides further details, stating that a Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputy observed Steele in the area of Route 28 and Route 7 around 3:50 a.m. The deputy noted Steele’s vehicle drifting left and weaving within its lane while his right signal was on.
The officer also clocked Steele driving at speeds between 25 and 30 mph on Gloucester Parkway, where the posted speed limit is 45 mph. Upon stopping the vehicle, the officer observed that Steele appeared intoxicated, noting “glassy/red eyes, slurred speech, confused speech,” and a “strong and distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage.”
According to the affidavit, Steele repeatedly refused the officer’s requests to exit his vehicle, questioning the necessity. The officer subsequently entered the car to remove Steele, who reportedly pulled back against the officer during the attempt. Steele also declined to provide a breath test at the scene. However, he later submitted to a blood test, which revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.214 percent, according to records.
Team Response and Interim Coaching
Following his arrest, Steele informed the Commanders about the incident. The team then placed him on administrative leave and reported the situation to the league. A source familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, indicated that Steele was later fired due to a violation of team policy.
During Steele’s administrative leave in June, Commanders offensive assistant Wes Welker took over coaching responsibilities for the tight ends during mandatory minicamp. Neither the NFL nor Steele has provided a comment regarding the situation.
The firing of Ben Steele comes as the Commanders prepare for their training camp, which was set to begin just two days after the announcement.
Meanwhile, in other league news, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk is sidelined with a calf strain. The 49ers announced this injury, among others, on Monday, stemming from Sunday’s initial day of training camp. Kirk, who is 29 years old, was signed by the 49ers in the offseason and is projected to be their No. 3 receiver. He has averaged 54 catches for 677 yards and 3.8 touchdowns per season over eight NFL seasons. Other players who will not practice after sustaining injuries on Day 1 include offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (high ankle), defensive tackle Gracen Halton (knee bone bruise), and defensive lineman Andrew Farmer (back).
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.