Dan Quinn is under pressure this season. While that is coming from outside the building rather than from within the Washington Commanders, the head coach is experienced enough to know what might come next if he cannot turn things around.
And a looming cloud hangs over the Commanders, raising the stakes for Quinn in Year 3.
That, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Mike Tomlin.
Commanders could turn to Mike Tomlin if Dan Quinn cannot turn things around
Tomlin's long association with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended this offseason. He's taking a year out of coaching, accepting a job with NBC Sports instead. But if he gets the itch to coach in 2027, there should be a queue of suitors looking to obtain his expertise.
Whether the Commanders are among them remains to be seen.
Quinn is a highly respected leader in the locker room. There were mitigating circumstances behind the team's failures last year, but it's a results business. And if the Commanders cannot bounce back, heads will inevitably roll.
The Commanders gave Quinn grace. He built up enough confidence during Washington's run to the NFC Championship game, but changing both offensive and defensive coordinators means there are no scapegoats left.
In this scenario, Moe Moton of The Bleacher Report is among those who believe Tomlin would be a great fit for the Commanders. Though the Steelers toiled offensively over his final seasons, having quarterback Jayden Daniels already in place could see a change in fortunes.
"After Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022, Pittsburgh struggled offensively under (Mike) Tomlin, but with a young franchise quarterback already in place, he may see better results on that side of the ball with the Commanders."
It's an intriguing theory, of course. But there is a long way to go before it becomes anything more than speculation.
Dan Quinn won't be giving up his Commanders job without a real fight
Quinn won't be giving up without a fight. Everyone in the building still believes he is the man to take the team forward, and the Commanders are confident they can right last season's wrong.
Weathering an early storm is crucial.
The Commanders have a brutal stretch of games to start the season. They need something to show for their efforts, or Quinn's seat is going to get warm in a hurry. Nobody in the organization will panic, and the majority owner, Josh Harris, has displayed patience with his other sports franchises.
But this will only go so far.
If the worst happens and Quinn is let go, it would be surprising if Tomlin wasn't high on the shortlist. He's another respected leader of men with an accomplished résumé. This might also be an intriguing project to return to with a sleeping giant in a big market.
At the same time, the Commanders might look for someone a little younger in this scenario.
They've done the experienced coach thing already. Taking a chance on an up-and-comer from a successful franchise might be the change of path needed. But all this is hearsay while Quinn still has the job.
After so much upheaval throughout the Dan Snyder years, this should be a time for stability. But with Tomlin's presence set to dominate the next head-coaching cycle, it might give the Commanders a reason to make a change if they aren't satisfied with the trajectory under Quinn.
Time will tell on all fronts, but it adds an extra level of fascination to a critical 2026 campaign for Quinn and the Commanders.
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