The Washington Commanders have one game left to tackle in 2025 before moving quickly onto an offseason of extreme importance for the franchise. And there is one swirling rumor that is causing significant debate among the fan base.
Dianna Russini from The Athletic dropped a bombshell on the eve of Washington's clash with the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 18. The senior insider reported that the Commanders have discussed moving on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, even if he doesn't land a head-coaching job elsewhere. She also noted a disconnect between the play-caller and general manager Adam Peters, further raising concerns.
If this is accurate, it will only end with one outcome. The Commanders are not going to get rid of Peters. Therefore, it'll be Kingsbury who makes way.
Commanders' reported internal disconnect has plenty of substance attached
And upon further examination of what's happened in recent months, the report could have some merit attached.
Kingsbury was irked in the offseason during Terry McLaurin's contract standoff. He wanted his primary playmaker on the field, but Peters was holding out for the best deal. The timing was off immediately, and the wideout going to injured reserve after that was deeply frustrating.
Outside of trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., the Commanders didn't do enough to strengthen the offensive options. Injuries forced Kingsbury to rely on backups and players who were not starting NFL performers. It quickly became a wasted season on almost every level, and frustrations are clearly reaching a boiling point.
Then, there is Jayden Daniels. The Commanders mismanaged their prized possession, giving false hope about a return before eventually shutting him down. Add all of these elements together, and it's not hard to see why relationships could be frayed behind the scenes.
This season's failure shouldn't be placed on Kingsbury. The Commanders' offense has regressed, but the former Arizona Cardinals head coach has rarely (if ever) played with a full deck. Even so, if there is a legitimate disconnect between him and Peters, this is far more concerning than anything that's transpired on the field.
It'll be interesting to see how things shake out in the coming days. Firing defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. seems like a foregone conclusion. If Kingsbury also gets canned, there will be no more scapegoats if the same poor performances continue in 2026.
After that, Peters and head coach Dan Quinn will be in the line of fire.