The Washington Commanders have had an incredibly disappointing season, as the team is 4-10 heading into Week 16 and has significantly regressed from 2024, when they reached the NFC championship game.
With the Commanders falling flat in 2025, head coach Dan Quinn's future has come into question. Though Washington has dealt with injuries this season, especially star quarterback Jayden Daniels, Quinn has been underwhelming.
Quinn has made his mark as a defensive coach in the NFL, but the Commanders' defense has been one of the worst units in the league this year, ranking in the bottom ten in points allowed per game (26.8) and second-worst in yards allowed per game (382.6).
Despite Washington's abysmal record and poor defensive performance, it sounds like Quinn's job is safe. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Commanders owner Josh Harris has confidence in Quinn, and all signs point to the veteran head coach returning for the 2026 season.
"Dan Quinn has held the locker room together. Owner Josh Harris believes in his head coach, and all indications are Quinn will be back for a third season," Rapoport and Pelissero wrote.
However, Rapoport and Pelissero did add that changes could be coming. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who lost playcalling duties in November, likely won't be back on the staff.
"That doesn't mean there won't be changes. After a brutal first half of the season on defense, Quinn took over play-calling duties from his longtime assistant Joe Whitt Jr., who seems unlikely to return as defensive coordinator," the NFL insiders added.
Though it's been a rough season in Washington, bringing back Quinn is a logical move. The Commanders were just one game away from the Super Bowl just a year ago, and Quinn has shown that he can be a high-level coach and string together playoff wins.
With Daniels set to come back healthy in 2026, there should be no excuses for Quinn, who should be on the hot seat heading into next year.
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