Sam Howell, the first Washington Commanders quarterback in years to provide any semblance of hope, has a proud dad behind him. Daddy Duke Howell wears many hats as a husband, father, and, most recently, head coach.
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That’s Coach Howell to You!
Coach Howell isn’t a new title for Mr. Howell. He’s been on a high school coaching staff for over a decade. He was actually Sam’s offensive coordinator at Sun Valley High School in North Carolina.
After working his way up at Cuthbertson High School in North Carolina for several seasons, Mr. Howell went from quarterback coach in 2022 to head coach in 2023.
His first day as head coach was disrupted by over 100 texts of congratulations first thing in the morning, and then more throughout the day, when his son was named starting QB for the Commanders.
This is a time for exciting growth for Mr. Howell too. He used to be an excitable coach in his Sun Valley days, often described as “animated.”
He has begun his head coaching career with poise and quiet grace. Howell feels he is “getting kinder and gentler” with time.
Big day and night for the Howell family. Sam gets named as Washington’s starting QB earlier today and tonight Duke earns his first win as head coach. Congratulations to both! @CHS_CavsFB @langstonwertzjr @pepman704 pic.twitter.com/H1TVhhlgmB
— Tim Winters (@UCNCFootball) August 19, 2023
In other words, he is the exact opposite of seemingly every NFL coach. Instead, he’s calm, walking, and keeping his gestures to a minimum. I bet his son would have preferred that back in the day. Perhaps then the NFL QB might not have gotten to where he is.
Duke Howell Has Strong Roots
Mr. Howell is the son of a serviceman stationed in South Korea, Bruce Howell, who found the woman in Korea who captured his heart, Han Howell.
You may recognize Grandma Howell. She has been a constant presence in the bleachers for all of her grandson’s high school games and the majority of his college ones as well.
#Commanders QB Carson Wentz gave his suite at FedEx Field to Sam Howell’s family so they could come to watch him play in his very first game. This is awesome! #HTTC pic.twitter.com/THtbiUoiPe
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 10, 2023
She even stayed up all night on her visit to Korea in 2022 so she could catch Howell playing pre-season games last season. Unfortunately, she passed away last year.
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Grandma hasn’t just been there to support her grandson; she has been a constant source of strength and support since her husband passed away when her children were young, shortly after they moved to North Carolina as a family.
The same tenacity that the family matriarch used to support her children as a single mother in a new country lives on within her head coach son and her starting QB grandson.
Is Duke Howell Married?
Earlier today Sam presented his parents Amy and Duke Howell with the @amfam #DreamChampion award. #DreamFearlessly pic.twitter.com/dzd0qiaTsR
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) October 29, 2018
Coach Howell has been married to Amy Howell for many years. The couple shares three children: the oldest, Anna Howell, then her middle son and a carbon copy of her husband, and lastly, Will Howell, who is also a sports buff.
Mr. Howell has worked together with his wife and extended family to raise his children in a supportive, tight-knit family. It doesn’t matter which hat Mr. Howell is wearing; he approaches each one with the same calmness, strength, and support he shows on the gridiron sidelines.