Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is already being talked about as a name to watch heading into 2026, and the chatter is starting to sound louder than simple offseason noise.
Jason La Canfora reported that people around the league believe Quinn’s job security could be in question when that year arrives. The warning signs, according to La Canfora’s sources, start with how much turnover Washington made on its coaching staff this past season. Around the league, that kind of change is often seen as a signal that the head coach may be the next domino to fall.
Washington made significant moves on both sides of the ball. Quinn replaced former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt during the season after the Commanders suffered a second straight year of poor defensive play. This offseason, he brought in Daronte Jones as the new DC.
On offense, Quinn also moved on from veteran coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and elevated assistant quarterback coach David Blough into the role. Blough is regarded highly, but the promotion is still a major leap and a real gamble.
La Canfora also noted that Commanders GM Adam Peters is believed to have substantial influence with ownership, led by Josh Harris, which could matter if Washington slips again. One general manager told La Canfora the Commanders would seriously consider a coaching change this winter. Another longtime personnel executive went a step further and named a possible replacement: former Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
“Keep an eye on Sean McDermott there next year,” La Canfora quoted the exec. “Just remember who told you first.”
Quinn, 55, has spent a long time climbing the NFL coaching ladder. He got his start in 2001 with the 49ers as a defensive quality control coach, then became their defensive line coach. He later held the same role with the Dolphins, Jets and Seahawks before Seattle promoted him to defensive coordinator in 2013.
His first head coaching opportunity came with the Falcons in 2015. Two years later, he guided Atlanta to the Super Bowl in 2016, but he was dismissed after the 2020 season.
After that, the Cowboys hired Quinn as defensive coordinator, and Dallas quickly became one of the league’s best defenses. That run eventually put him back in the head coaching market, and Washington brought him in.
In Atlanta, Quinn finished 43-42 over six seasons and made two playoff trips. In Washington, he is 17-17 in two years with one playoff appearance and a 2-1 postseason record. Across his head coaching career, Quinn is 60-59 with three playoff appearances, a 5-3 playoff mark and one Super Bowl appearance.
McDermott, 52, started his NFL coaching career with the Eagles in 1999 as a scouting coordinator. After 12 years in Philadelphia, the Panthers hired him to lead their defense in 2011. Buffalo then brought him in as head coach in 2017.
The Bills moved on from McDermott after the 2025 season, ending a nine-year run in which he went 98-50 with eight playoff appearances and an 8-8 postseason record.
In Other News...
Three Young Bills Are Already Facing A Serious Camp Warning
The Bills are heading into training camp at St. John Fisher University with more than just a 53-man roster puzzle in front of Brandon Beane and Joe Brady. As the team starts sorting through the 2026 roster, a few young players are already in the spotlight, and the early evaluation period could matter a lot for anyone trying to turn promise into a more secure role.
Sedrick VanPran-Granger, Tyrell Shavers and Ray Davis are among the names worth watching because each faces a different kind of squeeze. VanPran-Granger has to show he can hold up where the Bills need him most, Shavers is fighting through a crowded receiver picture, and Davis is dealing with added competition in the backfield, which makes these first camp weeks especially important for three players trying to stay on the right side of the roster conversation. [Read more 🡒]
T.J. Parker Already Found One Bills Veteran He Needed Early
The Bills spent draft weekend doing a little extra maneuvering, trading back multiple times before landing Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker with the 35th overall pick. For a team trying to stay in win-now mode, the appeal is obvious: Parker adds depth on the outside and gives Buffalo another young pass-rushing piece to develop behind an experienced group.
Parker has already found the kind of early support that can speed that process along, and he has made it clear that one veteran in particular has stood out since he arrived. For a player being eased into a depth role as Buffalo reshapes its front under Jim Leonhard, having that kind of guidance matters, especially with the Bills hoping the rookie can absorb the playbook and push toward a bigger role sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Just Sent Another Telling Message About Their Receiver Room
The Bills have spent much of the offseason looking for ways to add speed and juice to a receiver room that still feels like a work in progress, and Deven Thompkins is the latest name to get a shot. Buffalo signed the former Falcons wideout to a one-year deal on June 11 after a minicamp tryout, continuing a pattern of bringing in smaller, quicker pass catchers who can help stretch the field and do a little bit of everything.
Thompkins, who spent last season in Atlanta mostly on special teams, fits the kind of low-cost, flexible profile Buffalo has been chasing. The question now is whether he can carve out a real role as a gadget option and return specialist, or simply become another offseason addition in a crowded competition for spots at the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]