Dan Quinn is cherishing this moment. He's done an incredible job during his first season with the Washington Commanders. Securing another landmark success at the Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Conference championship game would be the icing on the cake.
The Commanders formed a close-knit unit quickly under Quinn's guidance. He was the right leader for this team — someone revered around the league and respected in the locker room. His outstanding culture shift was remarkable. What followed was a turnaround of epic proportions.
This doesn't happen by accident. The Commanders coming through in so many close games doesn't either. It's down to hard work, exceptional preparation, and sound execution in high-pressure moments. They are battle-hardened and never out of the fight. It's been a long time since fans could say that with any confidence.
Quinn pinpointed another important factor to this equation.
Dan Quinn banking on trust to guide the Commanders against the Lions
He centered on the trust developed between the players. Nobody is shirking responsibilities. Everyone is fighting for one another and giving everything to the cause to ensure their goals are met. The head coach believes this experience will serve them well at Ford Field.
"We do embrace it for sure. I think it’s because of the volume of times we’ve been in it. I think that, the experience into those spots, like I talked about earlier, the hard fights doing it together, you do gain confidence from going through that. They’ve been in a lot of close games, not just over the last month or so, but really the entire season with the exception of the first game. And you do grow together, and these guys have really bonded and connected, and they trust one another, and I think that’s a big deal. They trust one another; that’s a big deal. Not every team has that."Dan Quinn via USA Today
Quinn came into the Commanders with one primary goal. He focused his attention throughout the offseason on building relationships. He allowed players to police themselves within the locker room and only stepped in when it was necessary. This was a bold ploy considering the wholesale changes made to the playing personnel, but it's paid off handsomely.
This sort of trust matters from a coach to the playing staff.
Someone like Ben Johnson or another first-year head coach might not have been so willing to let them take the lead. Quinn's previous experience of knowing what works and what doesn't gives him the confidence to form relationships first and worry about the rest later. It also helped that his strong contacts allowed him to form the best possible coaching staff to ease the transition.
Whether the Commanders pull off a miracle in Detroit or not, fans can relax safe in the knowledge this franchise is on the up. They are in good hands with Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. This is the sort of environment where players want to play — not get away from at the first opportunity. Again, it's been a long time since fans had that to hang their hats on.
Quinn is a leading candidate for NFL Head Coach of the Year. Looking at the way he's miraculously turned the Commanders around, there is nobody more deserving.