When the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel, it didn't take long for the Washington Commanders to enter speculation about his next destination. He's got a strong bond with Dan Quinn, who was looking for a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury. The dots seemed to connect, and excitement quickly enveloped the fan base.
It didn't take long for fans' dreams to vanish.
The Commanders promoted David Blough to replace Kingsbury. They were fearful that he would leave for another opportunity elsewhere, and struck with conviction to keep him around. This represents a massive gamble, but confidence is high despite the former quarterback having no play-calling experience.
Commanders clearly didn't want to wait for Mike McDaniel, but they could have
McDaniel is receiving strong head-coach consideration for an immediate return. He's interviewing with no fewer than four teams — the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens — about their openings. However, another update from Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network made Commanders fans rethink everything.
Pelissero, one of the league's most respected insiders, confirmed that McDaniel will also interview with the Detroit Lions for their vacant offensive coordinator position. Getting a head coaching job may be his first priority, but he wants to cover all his bases regardless.
It's hard to believe Quinn wouldn't have reached out to McDaniel to find out his plans. He instantly became the most innovative offensive mind on the market, and it's not particularly close. Considering their relationship, making an inquiry was the least Washington should have done in the circumstances.
We'll probably never know for sure. The Commanders may have believed enough in Blough to make everything else a formality. They may not have wanted to wait around for McDaniel. They may have called and been told he wasn't interested. But if they didn't try, that represents a supreme leap of faith in their new offensive coordinator.
Blough worked with the likes of Kingsbury, Ben Johnson, and Kevin O'Connell during his career. He was getting significant overtures from elsewhere. Keeping him around also maintains some semblance of continuity for quarterback Jayden Daniels, an overlooked yet integral element of this equation.
If it doesn't pay off, Quinn is going to take the fall. Firing both coordinators left him with no more scapegoats, so this has to go well. McDaniel would have been one of the very few who'd be classed as an upgrade on Kingsbury, but the Commanders have a genuine belief that Blough could become precisely the same.
McDaniel is thinking bigger. And given the stakes of Washington's 2026 season, delaying without a guarantee just wasn't smart.
No matter how disappointing that may be.