Commanders 'An Opportunity I Couldn't Pass Up' Says New TE Zach Ertz
Washington Commanders fans nearly threw a parade when managing partner Josh Harris and his group of minority owners took over, but some of that shine faded during the four-win season that followed.
That shine is starting to come back after people got behind the hiring of general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn, but it wasn't just Commanders fans taking note.
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz finalized his deal with Washington on Tuesday and from the outside looking in until then he says he knew this was a situation he wanted to be part of.
Jan 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury watches tight end Zach Ertz (86) warm up before a home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Michael Chow-Arizona Republic NFL Seahawks Vs Cardinals
"Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and (offensive coordinator) Kliff Kingsbury are pretty much the main reasons that I'm here," Ertz said in his first comments to Washington media after signing his deal. "These are guys that I truly believe are going to build long-term success at this place, and it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."
Ertz spent the first eight years and some change playing for the Philadelphia Eagles facing Washington as an opponent 16 times before playing for coach Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals beginning in 2021.
The veteran says he knows how supportive the home crowd here can be when the fans are behind what the team has going on, and he looks forward to being a part of bringing that back to them this season.
He also admitted he's looking forward to being back in Kingsbury's offense.
"I think the job of any really good coach is to put the players in position to be successful, and no one does that better than Kliff in my opinion," Ertz said about his former coach and new coordinator. "He wants to put his guys in positions to make a lot of plays, whether it be running the ball or throwing the ball and catching the ball. He's going to do everything he can to put his guys in positions to be successful, and he's one of the best I've been around in that regards."
Ertz says he plans to be a leader off the field and a playmaker on it in whatever capacity the team and his quarterback needs him to be.
Who that quarterback is still has to be determined, but after 11 years in the NFL and about 15 different quarterbacks he estimates, Ertz is signed in, locked in, and ready to get to work delivering on the excitement Commanders fans are embracing this offseason.
