NFL
By: Courtney Byrd
Stefon Diggs is coming home.
After more than a decade of building his NFL career away from the DMV, the Maryland native is returning to where it all started. The Washington Commanders officially signed Diggs, bringing the hometown star back to the region while adding another proven playmaker to an offense led by Jayden Daniels.
For Washington, the move adds another proven weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels as the Commanders continue preparing for the 2026 season. For Diggs, it brings his football journey full circle.
Diggs grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, and remained close to home when he committed to the University of Maryland. He spent three seasons with the Terrapins, recording 150 receptions for 2,227 yards and 14 touchdowns before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Despite his production and local ties, Diggs had to leave home to begin his professional career. The Minnesota Vikings selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he quickly proved he belonged at the professional level.
More than 11 years later, Diggs returns to the area as one of the NFL’s most accomplished veteran receivers.
His career has included stops with the Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and New England Patriots. Along the way, Diggs earned four Pro Bowl selections and established himself as one of the league’s most consistent receivers. He enters his time in Washington with 11,504 career receiving yards and 74 touchdowns.
Even at 32, Diggs showed last season that he can still be productive. He recorded 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns with New England, giving him his seventh 1,000-yard season in eight years.
New Start
Now, he joins a Washington offense looking to bounce back after a difficult 2025 season.
The addition gives Daniels another experienced target alongside McLaurin and adds depth to a receiving room that entered training camp with competition for roles behind its established starters. Diggs also brings experience working in several offensive systems and with quarterbacks at different stages of their careers.
Washington did not waste much time getting Diggs onto the practice field. He participated in his first practice with the Commanders on Friday, getting his first opportunity to work within the offense and begin developing chemistry with Daniels. The Commanders appear to be gradually working Diggs into the mix as he becomes familiar with David Blough’s offense rather than immediately giving him a full workload.
Diggs’ versatility could also give Washington options once he is fully acclimated. His experience playing both outside and in the slot gives Blough flexibility in how he uses Diggs alongside McLaurin and the Commanders’ younger receivers. Those different alignments could become increasingly important as Washington determines how its receiving rotation will look entering the regular season.
Developing chemistry with Daniels will be one of the biggest things to watch over the remainder of training camp. Diggs has already spoken highly of his new quarterback and the talent surrounding him in Washington, and their early work together offers the beginning of a partnership the Commanders hope can strengthen the offense.
Still, the significance of the move extends beyond what Diggs can provide on the field.
Nick Wass – FR67404 AP
Washington was once one of the hometown teams that passed on Diggs in the draft, something he acknowledged provided extra motivation whenever he returned to play in the area. His career ultimately took him across the league before finally bringing him back to the place where it began.
Diggs made it clear after arriving in Washington that representing the DMV carries additional meaning.
“I want to put on for my city,” Diggs told reporters after his first practice with the Commanders.
That opportunity now comes at an interesting point for both sides. Washington is trying to rebound from a 5-12 season and surround its young franchise quarterback with enough talent to compete again. Diggs is entering his 12th NFL season with an opportunity to show he can remain productive while playing in front of the community that watched him develop into an NFL player.
There will be plenty to watch as Diggs acclimates to his new offense and continues to develop chemistry with Daniels and the rest of Washington’s receiving corps.
But for a player whose football story started in the DMV, his latest chapter carries a different significance.
After 11 seasons, four teams and thousands of receiving yards away from home, Stefon Diggs is finally back where it all began.
