After another woefully inept campaign from the Washington Commanders' defense, head coach Dan Quinn has taken matters into his own hands. He is taking over, which places Joe Whitt Jr.'s future in severe doubt beyond the season.
The Commanders are in the midst of a lost year, but Quinn couldn't let things continue as they were. They are in complete free fall, and their capitulation against the Detroit Lions in Week 10 once again exposed glaring weaknesses that haven't been rectified.
One can point to Adam Peters' recruitment or the players failing to meet expectations, but the coordinator is the first person to carry the can. Quinn could see what was unfolding. He also thought a change in approach could provide the spark needed for improvements.
Quinn is a highly respected defensive mind. However, he prefers his coordinators to run things while he takes a more management role. That's had to change for the good of the team, but it's not a method he'll want to sustain next time around.
The chances of Whitt being the coordinator next season are remote. He's gone from gaining head coaching interest from the New York Jets to being an innocent bystander on game days. Quinn didn't fire him outright during the season, given his respect and loyalty. But make no mistake, a fresh approach is needed next time around.
With this in mind, here are seven early options Quinn could target for Washington's next defensive coordinator in 2026.
Early options to replace Joe Whitt as Commanders defensive coordinator
Commanders could hire Clint McMillan
Dan Quinn is known for hiring people he's worked with previously. However, there will never be a better time for the Washington Commanders to generate some positive momentum by thinking outside the box. That's why a young, progressive coach should be considered if Joe Whitt Jr. is made surplus to requirements.
If this scenario comes to fruition, the Commanders could do far worse than examine Clint McMillan's credentials in greater detail. He's a Mike Vrabel disciple who is currently the New England Patriots' defensive line coach. He's played a leading role in turning their front into a dominant force, especially against the run, despite having to mold several new faces into a cohesive unit quickly.
McMillan is well respected in league circles. He was part of the legendary national title team at Florida under Urban Meyer before beginning his coaching journey. He started at the high school level, gaining college jobs before propelling himself into the NFL.
This upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing, making McMillan a potentially hot name in the coordinator hiring cycle next year.