When the Washington Commanders capitulated during the 2025 season, just one year after reaching the NFC Championship game, head coach Dan Quinn wasn't looking for excuses. He was looking for solutions.
And the revered leader believes he's found them.
It would have been easy to put an asterisk on the season's efforts. The Commanders' roster was decimated by injuries to key personnel, ending their playoff push almost before it began. But instead of blaming the bad luck, Quinn's action was much more decisive.
Dan Quinn wasn't looking for excuses after Commanders' capitulation
During a conversation with Eric Williams of FOX Sports, Quinn acknowledged that it would have been easy to go with the injury-bug narrative, but he knew the Commanders' problems ran far deeper. New systems are in place, and there is fresh energy around the setup. That leaves him both bullish and excited for the future.
"The easy narrative is to say, ‘Hey man, the injuries – that’s all it was.' But I want to go deeper than that, making sure what we can do better offensively and defensively, and then how do we develop more as an entire team. It takes a good, strong offseason to dig into areas that you want to improve on. So, we’re putting in two new systems offensively and defensively, much like we did in 2024. I’m excited about that."
This is the sign of a true leader. Quinn knew the tide had turned drastically, and he took the measures needed to hopefully end the slide. It might not work out, especially with the unknowns around first-time NFL play-callers David Blough and Daronte Jones, but it'll be a masterstroke of epic proportions if everything comes together.
Quinn didn't want any regrets. He waited too long to make the changes needed during his time with the Atlanta Falcons, and he eventually paid the price with his job. That was a mistake he wasn't going to make again, and nobody can criticize him for that.
There is enormous pressure on Quinn next season. An exceptional first campaign in Washington gave him enough equity for a reprieve. Even though the injury complications weren't used as an excuse, they no doubt came into consideration when discussing his future behind the scenes. He's deservedly been given another chance to turn things around, but it remains a precarious situation with almost no breathing space.
The Commanders have improved talent and better depth. The squad isn't the finished article just yet, but there is enough salary-cap space to make further additions if they are needed. After that, it'll be down to Quinn and his two new coordinators to mold this unit into a more competitive force in 2026.
And hopefully, they'll get some better fortune along the way.
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