COMEBACK: Dietrich Wise Reveals Why He'll IMPACT Washington Commanders’ Defense in 2026

Hey, teacher. Welcome back. Well, what what was last year this meeting is being recorded having to set out all those games and knowing what you were brought here for.

It was tough. We worked so hard doing all season train, train together all the guys and now day in day out, can't impact early, did things at the practice eight together, play games together, build a camaraderie.

And we had to do a first game and then the second game I felt like it was.

I feel it was I feel kind of sad because I got hurt and I feel like I'll leave my team, leave my guys that we worked hard together. And I wanted to do it with them.

For God's of the outcome, doing it with your with with the guys that you started with always mean something. So I'm really glad and in the honor to be back in Washington to do it again.

And then what you know, you're now coming in for another or different defense.

Do you think about like with Doran to Jones and what are you looking forward to this year?

I'm looking for a game back on the field with my teammates, whatever the defense is, I feel like I'll be able to adapt to it.

No, no, no, my culture and his background. I feel like I'm very familiar with his difference. So my main thing is just getting back healthy, getting ready, getting back on the field and staying on the field.

David Harrison.

I know I know coming back with something you really, really wanted, even throughout your recovery process. So when you kind of had those first conversations or knew those conversations right with the front office to bring you back kind of just how did you feel about that potential.

You know, it was an honor hearing those words that they wanted me back.

One of the things that I really want to do is that when they saw me, me back, I was on the right track of my healing process, getting everything going.

And I just want to be able to continue healing, continue working out, continue rehabbing, getting stronger, getting faster and being 100% so I can get back on the field.

I mean, we have a team went and I know during your recovery process, you were able to spend a good amount of time around the guys. I know they benefit it from that. But what do you, what do you also get from from being around the guys during your recovery?

A camaraderie knowing that you're not doing anything alone. When you're working with you, when you are rehabbing from the injury, it's pretty tough on all aspects mentally, physically, emotionally. So just

being around guys sometimes has broke the monotony of rehab. Sometimes looking at the window, seeing the guys in the fields, like, all right, cool, like I have something to strive for. Just like seeing, you know, you know, you know, you know it, being around family, being around these guys, it kind of helped the process along, pretty smoothly.

Thanks, nature. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, neat.

Hey, did you drink? Welcome back.

Hey, thank you.

How you doing?

Good. So kind of along the lines of what John and David just asked, what has this recovery process been like for you? Like, what are you in the process?

Oh, I feel like I'm doing really, really well. The journey was tough. It was ups and downs. It was good days. It was not so good days.

But it was something that taught me a lot during this process, being present, being thankful for where I met now and how far I came, taking every day, one step at a time, seeing the progression.

So when you get hurt, you tend to start over on something and sometimes that's the hardest part of anything starting all the way over.

Cability lived 10 pounds. Now I'm working out back to the way that I'm used to doing now, I'm getting stronger. So seeing those daily progressions, they've meant a lot to me.

And now I'm progressing to doing more movement, which is really good.

Okay. Thank you so much for that. And then one more for me. Have you had an opportunity to talk to coach Durante Jones yet? And, you know, if so or if not, would have you learned about him so far?

Cool guy. Haven't had any deep conversation, but we spoke and he's a great guy. Talk to him about his coach and past where he came from and kind of his philosophy stuff like that. So I'm just understanding.

Understanding his defense and what he's bringing to the to the team.

All right. Thank you so much. Congratulations. Thank you.

Donna. Hey, Dietrich. What did you learn about yourself going through this process and getting back to where you are right now?

Resiliency. I'm a lot stronger than I get myself credit for.

I'm very patient. And I have the ability to still grow.

I have a room to still grab areas I still need to improve in and it was it was a journey. Put it that way. It was it was a good a good journey that I I think I learned a lot from myself from a lot from us around me and it made me a better person.

And in signing back with the commanders, why was it so important for you to come back this year with this team?

Well, I feel like there was a lot of unfinished business last year. I got hurt first part in the first two games of the season.

And I started with the guys and I really wanted to finish it with them. These these guys are great. I built a lot of good good bless you with these these guys.

My brothers, we have crew chats, we talk. So I kind of heard me to to leave the game how I did last year. So I just want to be able to not only do it with them, go to war with them, work with them every single day, but also put a good product on the field so that so that when we have gang days, the DC fans, the commanders fans are liking what they see as well. So that's it.

Thanks. No problem. Natalie.

Hi, Dieter. Welcome back. Thank you. No question. The defense is going to look very different. Come next week. New pieces brought in. But when it comes to what you guys were able to establish last year, the culture, the chemistry, what are maybe some of your messages to, you know, those potential new guys coming in to say, hey, this is, you know, the way things are done here or what we want to do essentially.

Big brother of the team. I really believe you cannot lead people without knowing them. And that's one of them that that DQ preaches every single day. He's all about brotherhood, all about knowing his guys. And then on top of that, he takes care of the players. So we teach hard work coming in every single day, doing what is right because it is right, being present, putting good particle on the field, building that crime on the field and off the field.

And then through that, through that, we're having fun, through that, we're learning about each each other. And we want to, we, his, one of his favorite sayings is doing hard things with good people. So we can continue doing hard things with good people. It makes it makes the work lighter. Awesome. Thank you. No problem.

Blake, did you have a question?

Yes, I did. Let me get that.

Welcome back, D. Thank you.

You know, last year when you got hurt, you know, the outpouring of support from your teammates and fans as well for you to be a new face on the team. How, how special was that for you considering the circumstances?

I mean, I really appreciate, I appreciate all the, the support from the fans, the support from the team.

This is a really great, this is a great city, great fan base that the commanders have. And they reached out to me. So that that that show love. And then just to have the warmth of the team, me being here for such a short time. And how much love that I received on the field, all the field and

after the, like throughout the season was, was, was good. And I knew that I wasn't doing it by myself, you know.

Together.

Congratulations.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Thank You.

Thank you.