League Sources See Dan Quinn on the Hot Seat Despite Commanders’ Recent Success

The Commanders are under pressure to bounce back in 2027 with quarterback Jayden Daniels entering his third year, when he becomes eligible for a contract extension, and the team reaching the NFC title game during his rookie campaign in 2025.

While Washington’s coach, Dan Quinn, isn’t mentioned as often as others who are coaching for their jobs in the upcoming season, several executives from rival clubs believe he is in a make-or-break scenario. 

Washington’s ownership group wants to project cohesion after years of tumultuous ownership with Daniel Snyder as the controlling party, but their actions this offseason spoke loudly to others around the league.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters wields considerable power with ownership, and Quinn’s staff was largely gutted this offseason, including both of his coordinators. 

Quinn was hired largely for his success as a defensive coordinator, but that unit suffered in both years in Washington, and he is no longer installing his own defense and overseeing that unit.

Once Daniels begins to make massive quarterback money, anything close to his rookie season would ensure that the ability to construct a roster becomes much more difficult. 

When a team makes as sweeping staff changes as Washington did, the industry views that as putting the head coach on notice.

In other news, the Commanders have also been linked with a move for Stefon Diggs and several other big-name wide receivers ahead of training camp as they look to bolster their offensive weapons for Daniels.

Pressure Is Mounting

The NFC East might be deeper and better than it’s been in a long time, which could be problematic for Quinn, and after 10 teams made coaching changes last year, the competition for the best and brightest candidates won’t be as steep this winter in all likelihood. 

And the reality is, inexperienced owners tend to have a short fuse with head coaches in this league.

“Keep an eye on (former Bills head coach) Sean McDermott there next year,” one longtime NFL personnel executive told SportsBoom. “Just remember who told you first.”

One general manager told me early this offseason that he believes the Commanders are seriously considering making a head coaching change this winter.