Dan Quinn Overhauls 5-12 Commanders, Adding Competition and New Coordinators for 2026
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Aug 12
Dan Quinn Overhauls 5-12 Commanders, Adding Competition and New Coordinators for 2026
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Aug 12
Summary
After a 5-12 collapse, Dan Quinn has rebuilt Washington’s offseason around constant competition — from spelling bees to leaderboards — to restore urgency he said vanished in 2025.
Quinn said a review of 2025 practices showed the Commanders gradually slipped on small details, with players later agreeing the team had grown too comfortable after its prior NFC title-game run.
January brought the biggest structural changes: Washington fired both coordinators, hired Daronte Jones and David Blough, and reshaped an aging roster with additions including Odafe Oweh, Sonny Styles and Stefon Diggs.
The reset comes with outside skepticism: ESPN projects 6.4 wins and last place in the NFC East, and All-Pro left tackle Laremy Tunsil is already out with a torn pectoral.
Quinn, entering his ninth season as an NFL head coach, said he has no ultimatum from owner Josh Harris, but people around the team say results still must follow a culture owners currently support.