The Washington Commanders enter the 2026 season with new coordinators on both sides of the ball. This comes after a disastrous 5-12 campaign that led the organization to part ways with Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr.
Some believe head coach Dan Quinn will be next if further failures arrive. Others are not so convinced.
The message behind the hiring of David Blough and Daronte Jones seems simple. It's Quinn's final chance to show he's the right man for the job. The Salisbury University alum does not call his own plays or design the schemes. Therefore, his own success is heavily reliant on his coordinators. If they fail, he will fail.
Perhaps not so fast.
Commanders analyst pushes back on Dan Quinn 'hot seat' rumor, and time will tell if he's right
For a multitude of reasons, the Commanders can't afford to have another season like the one they just endured in 2025. As for Quinn, NFL insider Jason La Canfora believes he is in a make-or-break situation.
Kevin Sheehan of The Team 980 disagrees.
"The seat is lukewarm. I just can't get to 'hot' or even 'warm-warm.' But if the defense is terrible again, that's where I think he could be in a lot of trouble."
Heading into Year 3 as Commanders head coach, what temperature is Dan Quinn's seat? Kevin says it is lukewarm at most and certainly not hot or even warm. pic.twitter.com/H49xIw8uRd
— The Team 980 (@team980) June 22, 2026
Sheehan admits that Quinn's job security is conditional and that if the Commanders struggle again, particularly on the defensive side that he specializes in, he will be under heavy scrutiny. But as it stands right now, there are no alarm bells ringing in Washington.
One thing Quinn has in his favor is that the locker room loves him.
Having a CEO-style head coach whose primary responsibilities are off the field goes a long way. Quinn has shown that he can lead a team to great success in the right situation, and Washington still believes it can create that situation with Jones and Blough alongside its leader of men.
Still, no matter how the organization feels about Quinn now, that can change in a hurry based on the results on the field.
Washington will have a difficult schedule to open the year, which will turn up the heat in a hurry if the Commanders struggle. At the same time, if they make the playoffs or even finish above .500, all of the noise will quieten down.
Fans and media members don't fire coaches. Only front offices do. Where the Commanders are concerned, all indications are that Washington still believes in its guy.
How long that continues is down to Quinn.
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