The Washington Commanders will be under heavy pressure to return to respectability in 2026, after last season went as badly as anybody could have possibly anticipated and then some. No one is feeling the heat more than head coach Dan Quinn.
Both of Quinn's top assistants were replaced this offseason, with David Blough taking over the offense from Kliff Kingsbury and Daronte Jones succeeding Joe Whitt Jr. as the defensive coordinator. If those two moves don't pan out, the head coach will be the next to go.
Additionally, the Commanders will face a gauntlet of games in their first nine weeks. If they can't weather the storm, Quinn might not even last the season.
Commanders can improve Dan Quinn's job security with a strong start, but it could go the other way
Everyone had the same thought when the Commanders' 2026 schedule was released: that the first couple of months are going to be absolutely brutal. It's no secret what that means for Quinn, which Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic discussed on 106.7 the Fan this week.
"The schedule does him no favors. Let's say they jump out to a slow start and they're 1-4 or 1-5, then what? The urgency in the NFL is greater than it ever has been for coaches."
After a 5-12 season and losing both coordinators, the pressure is mounting on Dan Quinn. Could a rough start to the year put Quinn on the hot seat? #NFL #Commanders #Football pic.twitter.com/KZDrMbGMb3
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) May 26, 2026
Due to both the schedule and the heavy roster turnover, which takes time to click, the Commanders seem like a classic second-half team in 2026. They're the type of team that could very easily start 2-5 or 3-6 and then finish above .500 with all of the momentum heading into a potential playoff push.
Still, that push might have to come without Quinn.
The Commanders are likely to be underdogs in six, possibly seven of their first eight games. If they can't find a way to turn at least a couple of those into wins, the noise is going to be deafening. And if they take any bad losses, such as to the New York Giants in Week 5 or even in London against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4, Quinn's situation becomes increasingly precarious.
The NFL, and the pro sports landscape in general, has never been more fickle when it comes to coaches. Less than 18 months ago, Quinn had the Commanders in the NFC Championship game during his first season at the helm. He finished fourth in NFL Coach of the Year voting. Fans fell in love with his passion and enthusiasm on the sidelines.
Now, those same fans are ready to pack his bags. And it's up to him to shut them up.
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