The Washington Commanders have decided on the future of Dan Quinn's assistant coaching staff, and the verdict probably shouldn't come as a surprise. Both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. will not return.
Whitt's exit was all but a given after Quinn demoted him from defensive play-calling duties. The writing was also on the wall for Kingsbury due to a disconnect with the front office.
Now, attention turns to who will replace them in 2026.
The Commanders must nail both these hires. Because if they don't, Quinn will be the next to go.
The ball is in Dan Quinn's court, and he can't afford to fumble
Much of the narrative surrounding a head coach's performance depends on their coordinators. Most don't call plays or design schemes. They're there to hold the locker room together and have their team playing disciplined, motivated, cohesive football.
Quinn is no exception. He's a culture guy, first and foremost. He's the exact type of rugged, no-nonsense personality you want in a head coach. A leader of men. But it's his responsibility to surround himself with a staff that can effectively manage a game, and both of his coordinators came up short this past season.
Whitt's defense was a disaster, and Kingsbury's offense had serious flaws that were exposed. In replacing them, Quinn can't mess around.
The Commanders need to hire a young, innovative mind to lead their offense and a veteran with head-coaching experience to run their defense. Adam Peters has given him control of both decisions, and the stakes are clear.
This is his last chance to save his own job.
Quinn's future and legacy in D.C. will be determined by how his next moves pan out. Many fans are already eager for him to pack his bags, but that can change in a hurry if he hits on his top assistants.
If he doesn't, and the team struggles again in 2026, it won't matter how good he is at keeping his players bought in. He'll be out of a job next winter.
Having strong coordinators can make all the difference. Jay Gruden was a poor head coach, but his team stayed afloat for a few years because Sean McVay was his right-hand man. Ron Rivera brought a proven track record of success to Washington. His downfall, in addition to his mismanagement in the draft room, was the lack of the right assistants around him.
Quinn has thus far followed the Rivera trajectory more closely. This is where he can — and must — distance himself.