Barnwell places Quinn in the top third of the 37 hires across five years, noting a sharp arc: “What a difference a year makes.” He highlights Quinn’s near-NFC Championship run a year ago, followed by a 2025 season in which the defense deteriorated, contributing to a difficult year for the franchise.
The 2024 campaign saw Washington finish 12-5, second in the NFC East behind the Eagles, with Jayden Daniels directing a potent offense. Daniels engineered four game-winning drives and helped the team reach the playoffs with two wins, including a road upset of the Detroit Lions. The Commanders scored 485 points, the most since their 1991 championship season, while the defense missed 130 tackles, ranking second in the league in that category.
In 2025, injuries to Daniels and defensive lapses underscored a rough season, as Washington allowed 26.5 points per game and surrendered the most yards in the league. The results prompted questions about whether 2025 was a one-year anomaly or a broader trend under Quinn’s leadership.
Quinn responded by shaking up the coaching staff. The Commanders parted ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., promoting David Blough, a 30-year-old former backup quarterback, to run the offense. On defense, Daronte Jones took over as coordinator, bringing a more aggressive, ball-attacking philosophy modeled on his work with Brian Flores.
Looking ahead, Washington faces a challenging NFC East, with the Eagles navigating internal strife, the Cowboys pursuing a strong draft haul, and the Giants retooling under John Harbaugh’s leadership. If Quinn can prove 2025 was an anomaly, the coaching changes and new coordinators could help stabilize the program and restore a more consistent trajectory.
