Changes were needed after the Washington Commanders stumbled their way to a 5-12 record when fans were expecting a deep playoff run. Head coach Dan Quinn duly obliged, kicking things off by parting ways with both coordinators.
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.'s departure was inevitable. Quinn took over play-calling duties from his during the season, and the coach is now free to take his chances elsewhere. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was also let go due to a difference in philosophies on how best to move the offense forward.
The most surprising element is who Quinn chose to replace them. Instead of appointing people with whom he had a pre-existing relationship — those with experience and alignment — the Commanders hired two coordinators with no NFL play-calling experience. It's a massive gamble, but it at least shows he is willing to try new things to get back on track.
David Blough and Daronte Jones come highly recommended in league circles. They are progressive thinkers with the innovative ideas needed to advance their respective units. It could go horribly wrong, but it would be a masterstroke of epic proportions if it comes off.
This should also have everyone in the building on edge. Everyone has to buy in. Those who don't toe the line will be shown the door. The stakes have been raised, and the time for half-measures is over.
With this in mind, here are seven Commanders who instantly went to the hot seat after Quinn's bold coordinator hires.
Commanders instantly on the hot seat after Dan Quinn's high-stakes hires
Jason Simmons - Defensive pass game coordinator
The Washington Commanders are entering a new defensive era under coordinator Daronte Jones. And if head coach Dan Quinn wants this risky hire to come off, he must let the new arrival mold his own staff team.
Considering how things have unfolded for Washington's defense over the last two years under Joe Whitt Jr., nobody should be complaining too much about that. And given Jones' rise through the coaching ranks came through his exceptional guidance of defensive backs, it wouldn't be surprising to see Jason Simmons let go at some stage.
Simmons will interview for the vacant Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator job, which indicates he is looking to branch out. Jones will have contingencies ready, but if the current defensive pass game coordinator takes his chances elsewhere, that may save him from a difficult conversation.
There are a lot of moving parts here. But Simmons is among the most likely to be made surplus to requirements.
Ben Sinnott - Commanders TE
David Blough should run a more pro-style offense, which is what head coach Dan Quinn wanted. Kliff Kingsbury wasn't as keen, and the Washington Commanders had no option other than to let him leave.
Blough has received some strong recommendations from around the league. For his scheme to work, he needs a productive pass-catching tight end capable of exploiting soft zones and making the most of opportunities in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. That places Ben Sinnott firmly under the microscope.
Sinnott remains an unknown quantity two years into his NFL career. The Commanders thought he could become a natural successor to Zach Ertz, but aside from a few flashes, the jury is still well and truly out.
The 2024 second-round pick out of Kansas State will find out what Blough really thinks of him in the coming months. If the Commanders add another tight end, he'll remain a rotational piece. If not, it'll be the biggest vote of confidence imaginable.
Darryl Tapp - Commanders DL coach
According to Nicki Jhabvala from The Athletic, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is planning to make some alterations to his staff, and rightfully so. The respected insider revealed that he wants someone to oversee the defensive front seven, in particular.
That would be a breath of fresh air. However, it won't be good news for everybody.
The Commanders’ defensive staff remains fluid after the hiring of Daronte Jones as DC. But the team is looking to bring on someone to oversee the front seven, with a focus on improving the pass rush, per sources.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 28, 2026
Darryl Tapp is currently Washington's defensive line coach. He's loved by the players and is a strong motivational presence. But if Jhabvala's report is accurate, and Jones wants to inject new ideas into the trenches to give them a desperate shot in the arm, there is no guarantee whatsoever that he will remain in post.
That might be difficult for head coach Dan Quinn. He's spoken glowingly of Tapp in the past, and he prides himself on loyalty. But with his own job status hanging in the balance if things don't improve effectively enough, there is no room for sentiment.
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
Daronte Jones' work with defensive backs is renowned. He's worked his way up from being a high school coach to the college level before arriving in the pros. The last few years were spent as Brian Flores' right-hand man with the Minnesota Vikings, where he had the NFC North club's secondary among the league leaders in takeaways.
That is much-needed in Washington. Jones' scheme plans to be aggressive and opportunistic. The personnel will need tweaking for this plan to come off, but it puts the onus on cornerback Mike Sainristil to prove his worth after an indifferent 2025 campaign.
Sainristil led the Commanders in interceptions this season with four. He also gave up 733 receiving yards on 61 receptions and a 108.5 passer rating when targeted. He took too many risks, and his lack of size became an issue for the first time. What Jones must figure out is how best to use his skills without becoming a weak link.
Johnny Newton - Commanders DL
If Daronte Jones plans to run a scheme similar to what Brian Flores deploys with the Minnesota Vikings, expect to see a lot of disguised coverages and exotic blitz packages designed to confuse opposing quarterbacks. This could even see the Washington Commanders move to a 3-4 or 2-5 base, although the alignments will be widely interchangeable.
Explosiveness and aggression are key. Edge rushers with length and burst are desirable. Versatile defensive backs are also needed. Generating pressure from the interior would also be wise, which is where Johnny Newton comes into the equation.
Newton was considered a monumental steal at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. But aside from a three-sack outing against the Philadelphia Eagles this season, it's been largely underwhelming from the Illinois product.
Until Newton becomes more impactful against the run, he'll remain a rotational pass-rushing force and nothing more. And if he can't thrive in Jones' system, that's a big problem.
Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB
Promoting David Blough, who'd only been a position coach for a few weeks after Tavita Pritchard left to take the head coaching job at Stanford, to the role of offensive coordinator was a massive gamble. One of the big reasons was to ensure there was some semblance of continuity around quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The No. 2 pick in 2024 lost his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Pritchard and Kliff Kingsbury played a leading role in his development, so keeping Blough around was arguably the only way to retain stability. It'll be interesting to see how things shake out, but the need for Daniels to bounce back cannot be overstated.
Daniels is more than capable. He looked like a superstar in waiting during his rookie campaign for the ages. Injuries dented his momentum this time around, but his performance levels regressed even when healthy.
This will be Year 3 for Daniels. He needs to hit the ground running under Blough. He'll be highly motivated to silence his growing number of doubters. And Washington's new play-caller may hold the key to propelling the former LSU phenom into the elite category once again.
Ryan Kerrigan - Commanders pass-rush specialist
Daronte Jones is reportedly looking for someone to bring more out of the team's pass-rushing options. General manager Adam Peters must do his part by improving the personnel, but the defensive coordinator wants to find someone who can mold the options available into his way of thinking.
Generating pressure was an ongoing complication for the Commanders. It's been that way ever since they traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young, so drastic action is needed. And if Jones finds the correct appointment capable of turning things up a notch, that might be the end of the road for Ryan Kerrigan.
One of the most beloved Washington players of the modern era, Kerrigan's been cutting his coaching teeth in recent years. He was one of the few coaches retained from Ron Rivera's staff, and he's widely respected in the building. But, as with Darryl Tapp, this is not the time to let emotions get in the way of progress.