From the outside looking in, everything seemed set up perfectly for the Washington Commanders to continue their ascension to the top of the NFL following the 2024 season.
Nothing was off the table. The Commanders were in every conversation about Super Bowl contenders. Quarterback Jayden Daniels had MVP buzz. First year head coach Dan Quinn was praised for one of the great one-year turnarounds in NFL history, taking over a team that went 4-13 in 2023 and leading them to a 12-5 record and a spot in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
Behind the scenes, things might not have been so rosy, which is now coming to light after the Commanders stumbled to a 5-12 finish this season, Daniels missed 10 games due to injuries and Quinn suddenly finds himself on the hot seat headed into Year 3.
“Sources: Part of the issue the Commanders have had in the building is the front office meddling with the coaching staff on personnel and which players to use — an ongoing problem dating back to 2024 when they were having success,” NFL insider Jordan Schulutz wrote on X on Wednesday, January 7. “With the team struggling this year, it reached new heights and there were notable disagreements. Moreover, I have not gotten the impression Dan Quinn wanted to move on from his coordinators. The entire disconnect is one to watch as we head into 2026. ‘There’s a lot of (expletive) going on there,’ a source said.”
Commanders Fired Both Coordinators
One sure sign any NFL head coach is on his heels is when they fire both of their coordinators — by their own hand or by someone else’s. Either way, it’s bad.
The Commanders cleaned house with their coordinators shortly after the end of the regular season, firing both defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury on Tuesday, January 6.
While getting rid of Whitt was a move almost everyone saw coming, Kingsbury caught everyone by surprise.
“I’m told Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury disagreed over several things; run-pass balance being high on the list,” 106.7-FM The Fan’s Grant Paulsen wrote on X. “It also seems like DQ has a different vision for what’s best for the long-term development of Jayden Daniels. Kliff runs a very unique, college-like system. DQ may want a more traditional NFL look for Daniels moving forward.”
Front Office Failings May Have Doomed Season
We can point to 2 very specific deals the front office screwed up that had a massive impact on the season.
First, releasing veteran Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and watching him sign a 3-year, $50 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings. General manager Adam Peter went out and signed defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to a 3-year, $45 million free agent contract … then watched fell flat in his first year with the Commanders.
Nothing, however, set the team back more than not signing wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a contract extension immediately following the season.
Instead, Peters forced McLaurin to hold out until just one week before the regular season and paid him a 3-year, $97 million contract extension — the same amount of money he wanted in the first place.
McLaurin looked rusty from the jump, as to be expected after spending an entire offseason away from his team, and ended up missing a career high 7 games due to nagging injuries.
Relationship Between Commanders Coaching Staff & Front Office Called Out