Washington's Jedd Fisch is considered an offensive genius, and he's developed an offensive strategy that he's taken and adapted from all over the NFL and college football. He's learned from under many of the greatest offensive minds as he's climbed up the coaching ranks. Part of his success can be filtered through a bunch of different minds. Fisch is also never afraid to learn more, come up with new wrinkles, and seek out other insights and advice.
He's now after that strategy again as he is working to hire Matt Cavanaugh, a multiple-time Super Bowl winner, who's won twice as a player and once as an offensive coordinator. He's someone who has worked with all sorts of coaches and quarterbacks over the years in the NFL.
According to On3.com's Pete Nakos, Jedd Fisch is finalizing a deal with Cavanaugh to serve as a senior offensive assistant for the Washington Huskies.
Washington is finalizing a deal to hire longtime NFL assistant Matt Cavanaugh as a senior offensive assistant, sources tell @On3.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) March 3, 2026
Will work closely with Jedd Fisch. The former Pitt QB has made stops as the offensive coordinator with the Commanders, Steelers, Ravens and Bears.… pic.twitter.com/TKnR4Xtrg0
Matt Cavanaugh is set to be hired by Washington and Jedd Fisch
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Cavanaugh was a star quarterback for the University of Pittsburgh, and he helped lead the team to a National Championship in 1976. He was drafted into the NFL by the New England Patriots 50th overall in 1978. He would go on to win the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers as the backup to Joe Montana in two different Super Bowls (XIX and XXV).
After his playing days concluded, he jumped into coaching and has coached all over the place. He has been on the staff of multiple NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Washington Redskins (now Commanders), and the San Francisco 49ers. He's mostly been a quarterbacks coach or an offensive coordinator. Though he has also coached tight ends before.
His most recent role was with the New York Jets as a senior offensive assistant in 2021. This Washington Huskies gig is bringing him out of retirement to help Fisch take this team to new heights and work out new wrinkles to the offense that Fisch likes to run. Cavanaugh will also presumably have a role in helping the quarterbacks, as that's one of his specialties.
It's a good hire for Fisch as it brings in another NFL-caliber coach that's been around a long time and has even won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. There's not much Cavanaugh hasn't seen or experienced in football, and he's set to help the Huskies in 2026.