The Washington Commanders still have faith in head coach Dan Quinn. Things didn't go well last season, but he never lost the locker room. Couple this with the equity he accumulated during a magnificent run to the NFC Championship game, and it's not hard to see why he's getting a shot to turn things around in 2026.
However, those within the Commanders may have been casting envious glances at Mike Macdonald's dominant Super Bowl triumph with the Seattle Seahawks. After all, this was their reported top choice before settling on Quinn.
Macdonald chose Seattle instead. And he's spearheaded an exceptional surge from the NFC West club en route to hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy after an emphatic victory over the New England Patriots.
Adam Schefter reveals what really turned Mike Macdonald away from the Commanders
Adam Schefter of ESPN lifted the lid on what really went down between the Commanders and Macdonald on the Pat McAfee Show. The senior insider said he thought appointing him was a no-brainer, given his ties to the region and his wife's prior work for the franchise. Still, despite a late plea, his confidence in Seahawks general manager John Schneider tipped the scales.
"Seattle was one of his last interviews. The Washington Commanders had a high level of interest in hiring him, and his wife, Stephanie, was a cheerleader for the Washington Football Team. And Stephanie's family is from that area. So, you would have thought, no-brainer, that's where he's going. Even when he was in Seattle visiting, the Commanders got him on the phone and made one last-ditch effort to try to get him to come back to Washington. But he chose to move cross-country. Mike [Macdonald] went there; the big reason was his belief in general manager John Schneider."Adam Schefter via Pat McAfee Show
"Mike Macdonald interviewed in a bunch of places and Seattle was one of his last interviews..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 9, 2026
The Washington Commanders had a high level of interest in hiring him..
He chose Seattle because he believed in John Schneider" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/VvExNJob6B
The rest, as they say, is history.
Macdonald's credentials needed no introduction after guiding the Baltimore Ravens defense to great things. He was ready for the step up, and he believed Seattle provided the best environment to put his grand plans into action. Even though that left the Commanders out of luck, it was clearly the correct decision from the coach's perspective.
Washington's defense has been an ongoing disappointment throughout Quinn's two years in charge. He fired coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. this offseason and replaced him with Daronte Jones. Hopefully, this has the desired effect, although a substantial overhaul of the playing personnel is needed to ensure this gamble pays off.
Things would have been a lot different had the Commanders gotten their hands on Macdonald. That's not to say Quinn wasn't more than qualified; it's just that their reported first choice was young, hungry, and boasted the innovative ideas needed for sustainable growth.
And if Quinn cannot get the Commanders back on track, this will only add to the regret.