The Washington Commanders resisted the temptation to speak with several experienced coaches in their search for a Kliff Kingsbury replacement. His time with the franchise ran its course, and head coach Dan Quinn took a significant leap of faith by promoting David Blough to offensive coordinator amid interest from the Detroit Lions.
This raised a few eyebrows, although Blough is highly regarded around the league. Most thought the Commanders would go with a play-caller boasting proven credentials, especially considering the added pressure on Quinn. One name that came up in rumors was Brian Daboll, who was fired by the New York Giants but remains an exceptional offensive mind.
Washington didn't consider it, at least not publicly. And now, one of their bitter division rivals has set the table for Daboll to exact revenge on the NFC East for the first time of asking.
Commanders' bounce-back chances would not improve if Brian Daboll joined the Eagles
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles will interview Daboll for their offensive coordinator vacancy. They inevitably fired Kevin Patullo from the role, although Nick Sirianni may keep him on the staff in some capacity. And they are desperately seeking more innovative ideas to help get quarterback Jalen Hurts and some gifted playmakers back on track.
Daboll knows plenty about Philadelphia's weapons already, having faced them twice a season during his stint with the Giants. He's also interviewed for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching job, and Schefter added that he could get more interview requests in the not-too-distant future. This confirms that, even though his time at MetLife Stadium fizzled, teams remain enamored of his offensive creativity.
The Commanders are focused on getting their own house in order. But if Daboll lands in Philadelphia, that's not exactly going to help Quinn's chances of gaining divisional supremacy next season or into the future.
Things are already more difficult after the Giants hired John Harbaugh to replace Daboll as head coach. This instantly legitimizes their project, and New York has gone from a pretender to a potential playoff team in the blink of an eye.
The Cowboys are seeking a new defensive coordinator, which will likely lead to improvements with the right additions on the field. The NFC East is a lot more volatile now, and the Eagles are on the lookout for the key that will ignite their offense to greater fortunes in 2026.
Whether it's Daboll or someone else, the bar isn't exactly high for growth. Considering the Eagles still managed to win the division despite such a stagnant offense, any enhancements will be detrimental to Washington's quest to return to contention.
The stakes have been raised, but Quinn already knew that.