The Washington Commanders moved swiftly to appoint their new offensive coordinator. Head coach Dan Quinn is being more methodical before choosing the defensive guru to replace Joe Whitt Jr., who was inevitably let go after a disastrous two-year stint at the helm.
Quinn wants to find the right guy, especially as pressure mounts over his job status. He's reported looking for someone with experience, ideally someone who has held a head coaching position. Several of those are on the market right now, and the Commanders have one particular candidate in mind.
This would also give Quinn the chance to finally stick it to Jerry Jones, which only sweetens the pot. However, this is far from a done deal just yet.
According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, the Commanders are scheduled to interview Jonathan Gannon for their vacant defensive coordinator opening on Thursday. He's got proven credentials in this field, and would be a massive coup for Quinn. But as expected, Washington isn't the only one coveting the respected coach.
Commanders have expected competition in their pursuit of Jonathan Gannon
Rapoport also confirmed that Gannon will speak with the Dallas Cowboys about replacing Matt Eberflus on Wednesday. After that, the recently fired Arizona Cardinals head coach will meet with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday about their head-coaching vacancy. Washington's meeting is sandwiched in between.
Gannon is in demand. So if Quinn believes this is the guy to spearhead Washington's defensive improvements, he needs to get a deal done quickly.
Even though Gannon's time with the Cardinals fizzled out, it's worth remembering why he got a head coaching job in the first place. He was the mastermind of the Philadelphia Eagles' defense that dominated all comers before winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2023 campaign. Washington's bitter NFC East rival lost both coordinators that offseason, a sign of how influential they were in the triumph.
One could argue that the Cowboys have better defensive pieces in place right now. They also have an abundance of draft assets to add more pieces for Gannon to utilize. The Commanders would be more of a blank canvas, so he'd need to be convinced that general manager Adam Peters is going to find the correct reinforcements that will enable him to do his job effectively.
Because if Gannaon chooses Dallas over Washington and thrives, the Commanders could fall further behind within the division. That simply cannot happen — not with Quinn heading into 2026 with his seat warmer than ever.
It'll be interesting to see how this saga unfolds. But make no mistake; Gannon would be a home-run hire.