Latest news with #Ertz
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Commanders' star calls Dan Quinn a 'difference-maker'
Dan Quinn ... best coach ???Zach Ertz loves his guy. @UpAndAdamsShow @Commanders Veteran tight end Zach Ertz believes the Washington Commanders have an advantage over other teams: Head coach Dan Quinn. Ertz joined Kay Adams on "Up & Adams" this week this week and was asked to name one thing the Commanders were better at than other teams. Ertz praised his coach. "I would say Coach Quinn is probably the best coach I've been around in front of the team and being himself, and bringing energy and holding guys accountable at the same time," Ertz said. "I think he is truly, truly a difference-maker here in this league, and I don't know if you can say that about every single coach that they're a difference-maker with their teams. But I think Coach Quinn truly elevates all of our performances. And not only on Sundays, but truly every day. And so, for me being around him in particular has opened my eyes to how good he is. I was never with him, I never played for him before I got out here, but immediately, you knew he was a difference-maker." Ertz has been around a long time, 13 years to be exact. He has played for some excellent head coaches and been around some truly remarkable leaders. Quinn is different. There's a reason so many players love playing for Quinn. One underrated aspect of Quinn's leadership is his care for veteran players. Washington signed multiple veterans last season, including Ertz and Bobby Wagner. They looked like they hadn't missed a beat. Ertz played in every game for only the second time since 2018 and finished with 66 receptions and seven touchdowns. And you wonder why a player like Von Miller signed with the Commanders. Washington has a specific plan in mind for Miller so that he can be at his best.
NBC Sports
17-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Zach Ertz: I hope Terry McLaurin gets paid, and I know he will be ready for the season
Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin described himself as 'pretty frustrated' with the pace of his negotiations for a new contract, and said he hasn't decided if he will show up to training camp without a new contract. But Commanders tight end Zach Ertz believes McLaurin will be ready to go when the time comes. Ertz told Kay Adams that McLaurin will work hard to get himself ready to play in the Commanders' Week One game against the Giants whether he's doing it on his own or at training camp. 'I don't know the business of what's going on. I'm not privy to the conversations. But what is it? July 16? The first game is September 7. There's a lot of time between now and then to get something done,' Ertz said. 'Everyone knows Terry's working his butt off whether he's in the building or not in the building.' Ertz said he believes players should stay out of their teammates' business when it comes to contracts, but he hopes the Commanders give McLaurin the contract he's asking for. 'As a player that's gone through contract situations, public contract situations, I appreciated that my teammates weren't out there giving their opinions and everything like that,' Ertz said. 'So I'm not going to come out here and say one thing or the other. But what I do know is Terry's going to do everything he can to be at his best when his best is needed. Fortunately, his best is not needed tomorrow or early next week. It's needed toward the end of training camp, Week One. For me, I'm rooting for Terry. I hope he gets paid as much as he wants to get paid. But in terms of the business side of it, I'm going to stay far away from that.'
NBC Sports
16-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Zach Ertz: Jayden Daniels wants to be so great that it really resonates with guys
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had a wildly successful first season, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game and winning AP offensive rookie of the year. But that doesn't automatically mean he'll be able to pick up right where he left off when the Commanders take on the Giants to open the season on Sept. 7. Given Daniels' work ethic, however, veteran teammate Zach Ertz is particularly confident that the quarterback will continue to progress in Year 2. 'I think he had a phenomenal year last year,' Ertz said in an interview with Kay Adams this week. 'And I think when he goes back and watches the film, I, as a tight end, can't exactly say what he needs to improve on. But I know there's always things in this league that you can improve on. Going into my 13th year, there's things that I'm continually trying to get better at. And, really, that's all sports. That's the best part about sports, is you can always find something to work on because no one is a perfect player. So for Jayden, I'm sure it's just little things — consistency, footwork, timing, whatever it is. There's something that he is working on because he's a guy who loves to put in the work, loves the process, and has very, very high standards for himself. 'He has such high confidence in himself because he wants to be so great that it really resonates with the rest of the guys on the field and on the team with him. So, from the outside looking in, you could say he had a phenomenal year. But in the back of his mind, he's saying, 'I could be better this year.' And it's crazy going into his second year, how good he was last year. But he's going to have that mentality for, hopefully, the next 15 years.' Being in the league for a while and seeing his share of quarterbacks, Ertz has an appreciation for how Daniels performs and how he handles himself. 'His humility — the thing about Jayden is, things really haven't changed,' Ertz said. 'He's such a humble guy. He is just one of the guys. And oftentimes, when you see guys come in that were drafted as high as he was, that won the Heisman — they come in with almost an ego. And Jayden was just a guy that wanted to learn. I think that's so rare, and I think that speaks about the type of person he is, the type of person that he'll continue to be. 'Yeah, his confidence, his comfort in the offense has grown from last year when first he came in to now — the offseason, OTAs. His demeanor, his ability to execute, yeah, it's improved. But the person has not changed at all.' Daniels completed 69 percent of his passes last season for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 891 yards with six TDs. In three postseason games, he completed 66 percent of his throws for 822 yards with five touchdowns and one pick.
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Commanders Veteran Cites Area of Emphasis to Compete With Eagles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Last season, the Washington Commanders stunned the football world with their play in the postseason. After nearly reaching the Super Bowl, one of the team's veterans opened up on what it will take to compete with one of the league's top title threats. Following upsets over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, Washington was one victory away from reaching football's biggest stage. Their final obstacle in the NFC playoffs was an all-too-familiar foe in the Philadelphia Eagles. The conference championship is where their Cinderella run would meet its end, as Jalen Hurts and company walked out with a 55-23 victory. Coming off an extremely successful 2024 campaign, the Commanders are eager to remain in the hunt in the NFC. They've made numerous upgrades to the roster and are hopeful QB Jayden Daniels can continue to lead the charge under center. Among those who will be trying to make life easier for the rising star is tight end Zach Ertz. Claim a $1,500 bonus for Commanders vs. Eagles with this Sleeper promo code NEWSWEEKXL and use it towards TNF picks on dozens of players, including Commanders TE Zach Ertz. Claim a $1,500 bonus for Commanders vs. Eagles with this Sleeper promo code NEWSWEEKXL and use it towards TNF picks on dozens of players, including Commanders TE Zach read: Terry McLaurin Sounds Off on Frustrations Amid Commanders Holdout During a recent interview, Ertz reflected on the Commanders' hopes of remaining a title threat. When the topic of facing the Eagles again came up, he cited one area of emphasis in this eventual showdown. That being making sure they are the side that better executes their game plan. "I feel like if I had that answer, everyone would know it and they would be 0-17," Ertz said while speaking with RG. "They're extremely well coached. They have a lot of talented football players. The key to winning every game is who's going to execute better, who's going to turn the football over less, and who's going to limit or have more explosive plays, That is the recipe for all games -- it's not just about the Philadelphia Eagles." The Pro-Bowl tight end also noted that the team can't get hung up on how things unfolded last year because everyone is starting with a clean slate. "Obviously, they won the Super Bowl for a reason," Ertz continued. "But like I said about our team, last year is last year. Nothing that happened last year is going to matter for us this year. We all have to earn it, not only them, but us as well." Also read: Commanders Star Jayden Daniels Lands Notable Spot in Recent QB Rankings Ertz is someone who knows the Eagles well, as he spent the first eight-and-a-half seasons of his career with the franchise. Now heading into his second year in Washington, he'll be aiming to take down his old team. For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Zach Ertz previews the 2025 Commanders ahead of the Week 8 matchup vs. the Chiefs
This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Super Bowl champion and Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz. In an interview with Easton Jr., Ertz, on behalf of global health leader Abbott and Real Madrid's "Abbott Dream Team" campaign, discussed his partnership and shared his thoughts on the Commanders heading into the 2025 season. "Yeah, I think the message I told the guys was really, you can't go out today and put all this pressure you are working towards today. The reality is they've been working their entire lives for this opportunity. They've been training hard for this opportunity. And so don't go out there and be a shell of yourself because you're putting so much pressure on yourself to be great," said Ertz, "Because today could dictate a chance to train at the premier facility in world football. I think that's the message to go out there: leave it all out there. Stay hydrated as much as you can. It's a little muggy in the DMV, but really, go out there and be yourself. After two hours of training with some of the best coaches in the area, you can walk out of there like I gave him my all. I'm proud of the performance I put in, and whatever happens, happens." The Abbott and Real Madrid collaboration "Abbott Dream Team" program seeks out talented soccer players across the United States. It gives them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Madrid, where they will showcase their skills and learn from Real Madrid's legendary coaches. The Commanders were one win away from Super Bowl LIX, surprising many critics with their postseason run. Ertz finished the 2024 season with 66 receptions for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. "Yeah, I think the real thing about the NFL is that the teams that are going to improve throughout the season continually are going to give themselves the best chance to be successful in the postseason. These teams peak early in the season and maintain that level. It's going to be hard for them to be successful in the long run because the teams that continually improve are going to catch up and pass them. They're going to have more confidence at the end of the season," said Ertz. "I think the expectations were low outside of the building. Still, in the building, we knew the type of people and the type of team that we could have as long as we continued to work. And I think that's why I've loved being here from the moment I arrived, because I'm surrounded by many men who love the process and their work. It was a no-brainer to come back here. I loved last year. We fell short of our ultimate goal, but I'm excited to be back." Ertz signed with the Commanders before the 2024 season, joining a young team with a new head coach, a rookie quarterback, and a familiar face in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. "I signed here before we even really knew. I signed before to see when there wasn't a quarterback on the roster before Marcus (Mariota) was even on the team. And so I didn't know about Coach (Dan) Quinn, but I heard many amazing things. I knew Kliff Kingsbury very well and trusted those two guys," said Ertz, "I wanted to share my experience in Arizona. The year prior was extremely difficult without Kliff (Kingsbury), so I just wanted to give back to people who truly believed in me again and wanted to see me at my best. Whatever happened with the quarterback situation would happen, and needless to say, it far surpassed all expectations. Marcus, in my opinion, is not a backup quarterback in this league, and Jayden (Daniels) is one of the best quarterbacks in this league, in my opinion. So I'm excited. I'm excited to be back with him. I think we've taken another step this off-season between the two of us in terms of tight end quarterback connection, but at the end of the day, nothing that happened last year, none of this stuff. It's about proving it every day, starting in about two weeks when we begin training camp, what kind of team we're going to be, what type of offense we'll run, and what sort of resiliency we'll have. That's the exciting part about football. It all starts anew every year. Everyone has high hopes and optimism, but it's who's going to put in that work to ensure that optimism turns into reality." Washington will travel to Kansas City for the Chiefs' Week 8 Monday Night Football matchup. Check out the following link for more information on the "Abbott Dream Team" campaign
