The Washington Commanders are reportedly going to fire defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in the very near future. That seemed inevitable from a long way out, but who comes in to replace him remains undetermined.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Commanders have already discussed potential options once Whitt's inevitable fate is sealed. Washington could keep things in-house, but head coach Dan Quinn boasts strong connections around the league. And a notable development could see him return to an old friend looking for work.
Despite guiding a mini-turnaround down the stretch that resulted in a four-game winning streak, the Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris after two seasons. Team owner Arthur Blank also parted ways with general manager Terry Fontenot, which represents a drastic overhaul for a franchise that failed to meet expectations this season.
Commanders could replace Joe Whitt Jr. with Raheem Morris after shock firing
This shouldn't go unnoticed by Quinn. The head coach and Morris are closely linked from their time together on the Falcons. They have a deep mutual respect for one another, so the connection is evident to all.
Morris was brought to Atlanta by Quinn as an assistant head coach and various other roles before becoming the defensive coordinator in 2020. He also took over as interim head coach when Blank fired Quinn. He's also familiar with Washington, working as a defensive backs coach in D.C. under Mike Shanahan.
It's not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not hard to connect the dots. Morris may want to see if head-coaching interviews are happening elsewhere. He might want to take some time away from the game to reflect. Even so, the chance to work with Quinn in a familiar environment could be tempting.
Although Morris' time in Atlanta ended sourly, he remains widely respected. He is an exceptional coach with a proven track record as a defensive coordinator. The Commanders are unlikely to be the only ones who would potentially be interested in securing his knowledge, but his ties to Quinn from a previous stop could put them at the front of the queue.
A lot can and will change before then. Quinn has some difficult conversations ahead before deciding on the next step. But considering the need to make improvements to ease any speculation about his own job when the 2026 campaign arrives, he may want a familiar face over an unknown quantity.
And make no mistake; Morris just became the best available option.