Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn needs to start winning games. His overtime blunder against the New York Giants piled even more pressure on his job security, but all signs point to majority owner Josh Harris staying patient before making a final conclusion.
However, NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix outlined a potential scenario that could lead to Quinn being dismissed in-season.
Pelissero acknowledged that Quinn is likely to get the full 17-game campaign to turn things around. Firing coaches during a season is something Harris has actively avoided with his other sports franchises, and he gave previous head coach Ron Rivera the courtesy of a full season in 2023 before removing him from the equation.
Dan Quinn's future as head coach depends on Commanders' locker room resolve
Even so, Harris is watching how the Commanders respond against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, and if it looks like the locker room has given up on Quinn, the billionaire's stance could change.
"Commanders owner Josh Harris has never been a believer in midseason coaching changes. But in the wake of last week’s overtime debacle in a tie with the Giants, he’ll be paying close attention to how Dan Quinn’s team responds Monday night at San Francisco.
“Barring a blowout loss or other signs the team has quit, either on Monday or after their Week 7 bye, expect Quinn to get the rest of the season to show he can get things turned in the right direction.”
This seems fair.
Getting blown out on national television — albeit to the unbeaten Niners — would be embarrassing. But if the team quits on Quinn, Harris has no choice but to move in a different direction.
However, that doesn't seem very likely.
Commanders players have never stopped believing in Dan Quinn
Even during Washington's struggles throughout a five-win year last season, the locker room confidence in Quinn never wavered. He's highly respected and a real players' coach. While his lapse in judgment against the Giants gave him no hiding place, the collective resolve hasn't taken a hit.
That is the biggest positive from a difficult week.
But whether it'll be enough for Quinn to get another season in Washington beyond 2026 is another matter.
The Commanders are 1-3-1, but the NFC East isn't strong. They can still claw their way back into the fight, and the bye week is coming at a good time. But positive results are everything in this business.
If they don't improve, Quinn will have no way back.
Harris has developed a strong relationship with Quinn over the last three years. Firing him would be difficult, and he won't like it. But the owner has to put the team first and remove sentiment from his decision-making.
And sometimes, the cord must be cut.
Quinn will get time, perhaps even the remaining 12 games, before his fate is determined. But this is reportedly predicated on responding positively to a monumental lapse in judgment that quickly made the Commanders a national laughingstock.
The players have to show up for their head coach. If they do, that will tell Harris everything he needs to know.
High stakes, indeed. But fortunately for Quinn, he shouldn't have much to worry about.
At least in the short term.
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