The Washington Commanders' turnaround is nothing short of astonishing.
This time last year they were looking for a new head coach and general manager to take them into a new era under Josh Harris' ownership group. Now, they are one game away from the Super Bowl.
Dan Quinn's presence is one of the primary catalysts. He was the right man to lead this ambitious project. His previous experience as Atlanta Falcons head coach served him well, building relationships and molding an unrecognizable roster into a cohesive unit with one common goal in mind.
They've gone way beyond expectations. The Commanders won 12 games during a regular season to remember. This was followed by a Wild Card success at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a stunning upset victory over the Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Conference championship game.
The league is officially on notice. Washington's rebuild is just getting started.
They have almost $100 million in available salary-cap space this offseason and seven draft picks at their disposal. The Commanders are a hot team again, which makes them an attractive destination in a big market.
Only the Philadelphia Eagles stand between Washington and the Super Bowl. They are underdogs once again with sportsbooks, but that doesn't matter to Quinn. He knows his team is a match for anybody when firing on all cylinders.
Dan Quinn credits relentless togetherness for Commanders' renaissance
It doesn't matter about the venue or how high the stakes get. The Commanders always seem to rise to the occasion and come through in the clutch. When speaking to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Quinn credited the team's toughness and belief as pivotal traits that propelled them into contention much sooner than anyone thought possible.
"This is a really tough-minded group. Other people might count us out, but we have a lot of belief in one another—that’s the A, No. 1 top-of-the-pile thing. Their belief in themselves and one another, that commitment and connection, really comes through."Dan Quinn
Quinn is a humble leader quick to credit everyone else rather than himself. But this culture shift doesn't happen without his leadership.
He was the right guy for the job. Some fans were skeptical and thought an up-and-coming coach like Ben Johnson would be a better fit. Adam Peters had other ideas. And he was spot on with his assessment of what was needed.
This is a fairytale for fans who are more accustomed to scouring the pending free-agent market and evaluating draft prospects at this time of year. Quinn revolutionized the way Washington approaches everything on the football side. From enthusiastic practices to meticulous preparation and supreme conviction in a competitive setting, the enhancements were extraordinary.
Quinn should be NFL Coach of the Year. If the Commanders manage to beat their division rivals this weekend, this Cinderella story will become one of the greatest accomplishments of any team in league history.
The former Dallas Cowboys coordinator proved that the schematic concepts and roster talent are not the most important factors. It's about implementing the correct culture and developing togetherness to fight as a unit whether things are going well or not.
Quinn achieved this objective. And this story is not over yet.