Kliff Kingsbury and Dan Quinn reportedly had a different opinion on how best to take the Washington Commanders forward offensively. Unsurprisingly, that came with the offensive coordinator and the franchise going their separate ways.
Kingsbury got the boot, which didn't come as much of a shock given the reports that surfaced in the days prior. Rumors of a disconnect with general manager Adam Peters also surfaced. Although the front-office leader was leaving everything to Quinn, that may have factored into the thought process.
Everyone in the building was stunned. And according to one respected NFL insider, the decision to fire Kingsbury has not gone down well with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Commanders' key offensive players are disappointed in Kliff Kingsbury's departure
Jordan Schultz revealed that several key offensive players, including Daniels, are reportedly disappointed that Kingsbury has been canned. The No. 2 pick in 2024 publicly vouched for the play-caller during his media availability on Monday, just 24 hours later, he's been let go.
"My understanding is that key Commanders offensive players, including QB Jayden Daniels, are disappointed with the team’s decision to part ways with OC Kliff Kingsbury. Daniels vouched for him to stay in his presser on Monday and was among those blindsided by the move. Offensive players on the team figured the only way Kingsbury would be gone is if he got a HC job."Jordan Schultz
A potential locker room mutiny isn't what the Commanders need heading into a critical offseason. Kingsbury was deeply respected by his players. He played a leading role in Daniels' meteoric surge to superstardom. Unfortunately, he's been injured a lot this season, and things haven't been the same.
If Schultz's report is accurate, Quinn needs to put out this fire quickly. This involves making the right hire—one who can hit the ground running, has prior NFL experience, and has a plan to maximize Daniels' exceptional skill set. Anything less, and he's got a massive problem on his hands.
The Commanders were gearing up for a playoff push this time last year. Now, they are looking for two new coordinators, and the players are reportedly unsettled. That's a bad combination, which only raises the stakes further heading into a critical offseason for the franchise.
Quinn never lost the locker room throughout the Commanders' struggles in 2025. That was one of the primary reasons why he didn't go straight onto the hot seat. That could also be why he's able to put out the reported storm of disappointment among his offensive players after parting ways with Kingsbury.
Time will tell on all fronts, but things are firmly hanging in the balance.