The Washington Commanders have kept faith in head coach Dan Quinn, and reports suggest they will for the rest of the season.
But if things go completely off the rails, the Commanders now have an interim in the making.
A few eyebrows were raised when reports surfaced about the Commanders bringing in Steve Wilks to help with the defense. It was supposedly not a reactionary move, and it had always been the plan during Daronte Jones' transition. But considering he was five games in before the respected figure arrived, the timing is certainly strange.
Commanders have an interim ready to go in Steve Wilks if Dan Quinn's struggles continue
One reason some believed Quinn would remain in post is that, aside from running backs coach Anthony Lynn, nobody viable could step into the breach.
That instantly changes with Wilks.
And he has a track record in these situations.
When the Carolina Panthers eventually fired Matt Rhule after just five games of the 2022 season, owner David Tepper turned to Wilks as the interim. He immediately laid down the law and reset the culture, which didn't sit well with everybody, but it instantly galvanized a locker room on its knees.
Wilks' hard-nosed style and physical strategy on both sides of the football saw the Panthers' fortunes turn immediately. They were much more competitive, punched well above their weight, and were one win away from clinching the NFC South before falling to the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to convince Tepper that Wilks was the man long-term.
The Panthers went with Frank Reich instead, and they sent a king's ransom to the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, which became quarterback Bryce Young. He was fired after just 11 games, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.
Steve Wilks has a strong track record as an interim if Commanders need it
Now, Wilks' time as New York Jets head coach and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator hasn't gone well since. But if the Commanders decide to pull the plug on Quinn at some stage, this is the guy they'll likely go with as their interim.
Wilks also knows general manager Adam Peters from their time together in San Francisco. Just who hired him to help Jones with the defense is debatable, but with pressure building on Quinn, the front-office leader now has a safety net if things completely spiral.
Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.
Quinn still believes. Their second-half response on Monday Night Football showed that the players are still fighting for their head coach. And even though the Commanders are 1-4-1 right now, their schedule is getting easier, and the NFC East is a complete mess.
The Commanders are down, but they're not out.
But Peters hasn't left anything to chance.
If results don't improve in the first few weeks after the bye, Quinn's fate will be sealed. While it's unlikely that majority owner Josh Harris will make changes in-season, Wilks presence on the staff — albeit in a part-time role — certainly makes it possible.
There is a short-term succession plan. Wilks has been in positions like this before and thrived. So if this season ends up being a lost cause, stranger things have happened.
For Quinn, this changes nothing. He'll keep plugging away, hoping results change in his favor. If not, he knows what'll come next.
Wilks' presence just makes it easier.
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