All is not what it originally seemed within the Washington Commanders. This is also not the tight-lipped ship of old, as several concerning reports from NFL insiders have surfaced in recent weeks.
A reported power struggle is brewing between general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. All the enthusiasm from their first-year run to the NFC Championship game is long gone. Their end-of-season presser felt extremely off after a 5-12 campaign. Soon after, the Commanders fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Quinn and Kingsbury sat down to discuss the next steps, and things didn't work out. That was the initial perception, but a blockbuster revelation from NFL insider Jordan Schultz painted a very different picture.
Insider report hints at Commanders' civil war between Dan Quinn and Adam Peters
Schultz revealed that the front office is allegedly meddling in personnel decisions and in which players should get time on the field. He also didn't get the sense that Quinn wanted to move on from either Kingsbury or Whitt, pointing to a potentially chaotic situation behind the scenes.
"Part of the issue the Commanders have had in the building is the front office meddling with the coaching staff on personnel and which players to use — an ongoing problem dating back to 2024 when they were having success. With the team struggling this year, it reached new heights and there were notable disagreements. Moreover, I have not gotten the impression Dan Quinn wanted to move on from his coordinators. The entire disconnect is one to watch as we head into 2026. “There’s a lot of s--- going on there,” a source said."Jordan Schultz
This ties in with the reported disconnect between Kingsbury and Peters. Quinn is a loyal guy, so he wouldn't want to get rid of anybody. Unfortunately, dismal seasons like this demand sacrifices. That's the way it is and the way it's always been in the NFL.
If Schultz's report is accurate, this indicates a growing difference of opinions between Peters and Quinn, putting the head coach on extremely thin ice entering the 2026 offseason. The calm and positivity from this time last year looks entirely different now. And when teams are languishing, the cracks and leaks begin to show.
It's something for fans to monitor. Front office personnel meddling in roster decisions never ends well. The Commanders almost refused to play their younger players in a lost season, riding it out with established veterans who had no long-term future right until the end. There is also the small matter of quarterback Jayden Daniels being shut down, which could very well have been against Quinn's wishes.
Fans should be concerned. If there is dysfunction in the building, that could lead to problems with hiring and recruitment, which would be nothing short of disastrous. It might be nothing, but it might be something, and the actions of late don't exactly point to a cohesive operation behind the scenes.
Hopefully, it doesn't last.