Dan Quinn’s Defensive Influence Already Taking Shape in Washington - But What Comes Next?
When Dan Quinn took over defensive play-calling duties ahead of Week 11, the Washington Commanders were in need of a spark. The defense had been struggling, and with the season slipping away, Quinn made a move - not a firing, but a reshuffling.
Joe Whitt Jr., a longtime colleague and trusted assistant, was reassigned to a new role. Quinn, now wearing both the head coach and defensive coordinator hats, stepped in to steer the ship himself.
And while two weeks is a small sample size, the early returns are encouraging.
Washington’s defense still isn’t perfect - injuries have taken a toll, and no scheme can fully cover for that mid-season. But under Quinn’s direct control, there’s been a noticeable shift in approach.
Gone is the heavy reliance on man coverage. In its place?
A more zone-heavy look that leans into a bend-don’t-break mentality. It’s not flashy, but it’s functional - and for this roster, that might be the best path forward.
Quinn’s also dialing up pressure more selectively, choosing his spots carefully rather than sending the house. The result?
A defense that’s starting to look more disciplined, more cohesive. Even in Sunday’s loss to Denver, the run defense showed signs of life - a step in the right direction for a unit that’s been gashed too often this season.
With five games left on the schedule, there’s still plenty of football to be played - and plenty of time for things to swing in either direction. But regardless of how the season finishes, Quinn will soon face a big decision: does he want to keep the headset on next year and continue calling the defense himself, or will he bring in someone else to take over those duties?
It’s a question Quinn himself hasn’t fully answered yet.
“I think, yeah, there’s a possibility of that,” he said Monday when asked if he’d consider calling plays again next season. “As we're going through it, I'm finding a battle rhythm to go, so I'm not sure where I'm at on that yet. I haven't discussed or gone down that road too far yet, but yeah, I would say that's a possibility.”
That’s a far cry from his stance earlier in the year, when he made it clear he didn’t plan to call plays. But things change - especially when you're trying to stabilize a unit mid-season. And Quinn, a respected defensive mind with a Super Bowl pedigree, has the credibility and job security to make whatever move he feels is best for the long-term health of this team.
If he does decide to hand the reins back over, he’ll have to weigh a few things. Does he hire someone who mirrors his defensive philosophy, ensuring continuity but narrowing the field of candidates? Or does he bring in a fresh perspective, someone with a different approach that might challenge the status quo?
It’s worth noting that some of the league’s most successful head coaches - Andy Reid, Sean McVay, Sean Payton, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Kevin O’Connell - still call plays, though all of them do so on the offensive side. Defensive-minded head coaches tend to delegate more often, but Quinn’s situation is unique.
His fingerprints were already all over the defense even when Whitt was the one calling plays. Now, they’re etched in even deeper.
How the Commanders finish this season will go a long way in shaping that decision. If the defense continues to trend upward, Quinn may decide to keep that rhythm going. If not, he’ll have options - and the leverage to make the kind of hire that fits his vision.
For now, the focus remains on the final stretch of the season. But make no mistake: the decisions Dan Quinn makes in the coming months will have a ripple effect on how this team is built - and how it competes - in 2026 and beyond.