Dan Quinn Reclaims Defensive Play-Calling for Commanders - and the Early Signs Are Encouraging
ASHBURN, Va. - When Dan Quinn took over as head coach of the Washington Commanders back in February 2024, he made it clear: this second shot at leading a team was going to look different than his first. After five-plus seasons at the helm in Atlanta - a run that included a Super Bowl appearance but also some hard lessons - Quinn went back to the drawing board. He studied his blind spots, re-evaluated his approach, and came into Washington with a plan to delegate more and focus on being the glue that holds the whole operation together.
One of the biggest takeaways from his time with the Falcons? He tried to do too much.
Twice in Atlanta - in 2016 and again in 2019 - he took over defensive play-calling duties midseason, hoping to spark a turnaround. Both times, the extra workload stretched him thin.
So when he arrived in Washington, Quinn handed the defensive reins to longtime lieutenant Joe Whitt Jr., while Kliff Kingsbury took charge of the offense. Quinn’s role, as he described it, was to oversee the big picture - to be the connector, not just the tactician.
But here we are, not even two full seasons into his Washington tenure, and Quinn is once again calling plays on defense. The shift happened in Week 11, after four straight blowout losses forced the Commanders to reassess. And while Quinn hasn’t committed to keeping the dual role into 2026, he’s leaving the door wide open.
“I’m finding a battle rhythm,” he said this week. “I haven’t gone down that road too far yet, but yeah, I would say that’s a possibility.”
What’s Different This Time?
Quinn insists this isn’t a repeat of Atlanta. The biggest difference? He’s not doing it alone.
Whitt is still on staff and still holds the defensive coordinator title, but his role has shifted. He’s now more involved in the week-to-week prep - building out the call sheet and working closely with the secondary, which has long been his specialty. On game days, he’s up in the booth, offering Quinn another set of eyes on coverages and personnel groupings.
Quinn is also leaning on other key voices. Assistant head coach and offensive passing game coordinator Brian Johnson is part of the weekly planning process, and senior VP of football initiatives David Gardi has become a trusted in-game advisor, especially when it comes to clock management and situational decisions.
It’s a more collaborative setup than Quinn had in Atlanta - and so far, it’s starting to show results.
Subtle Changes, Tangible Results
Let’s be clear: the Commanders’ defense hasn’t turned into the 2000 Ravens overnight. But there’s been a noticeable shift over the past few weeks - not just in the numbers, but in the way the unit is playing.
Before Quinn took over play-calling, Washington’s defense was giving up explosive plays at an alarming rate. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, they were allowing 5.7 explosive pass plays (16+ yards) per game - second-worst in the league - and their total defensive EPA per game sat at -8.16.
Since Week 11? Those numbers have improved significantly.
The Commanders are allowing 4.5 explosive pass plays per game, which ranks them 14th in that span. Their defensive EPA has climbed to -2.76 - still not elite, but trending in the right direction.
And the eye test backs it up.
In Week 11 against the Dolphins in Madrid, Washington’s defense showed real bite. They held Miami to just 16 points, came up with two goal-line stands, and sacked Tua Tagovailoa three times. The Commanders lost the game 16-13, but the defense was not the issue.
The following week against Denver, Washington again kept it tight, forcing overtime against the AFC West-leading Broncos. Despite being down three pass rushers due to injury, the defense forced three punts in the fourth quarter and came up with a takeaway. The pass rush wasn’t dominant, but the unit held together - and gave the team a chance to win.
Simplified Scheme, Sharper Execution
One of the biggest changes under Quinn’s renewed leadership has been simplification. Safety Quan Martin said the calls themselves haven’t changed much - there are just fewer of them.
“There are just less of them, so it allows us to play fast and not think too much when we’re out there,” Martin said.
That’s a big deal. In today’s NFL, where offenses are constantly shifting formations and creating mismatches, a defense that plays fast and with confidence can make up for a lot of shortcomings. And that’s exactly what we’ve seen from Washington over the past few games.
Quinn, for his part, isn’t taking a victory lap. He credited the players’ energy and execution for the turnaround, not his own play-calling.
“I think guys are communicating at a high level,” safety Jeremy Reaves said. “We’re trusting what we’re seeing and taking shots. I think that’s the recipe of every good defense - trusting the guys around you and knowing where to be and when to be there.”
Reaves also offered a dose of perspective. Yes, the defense has improved.
Yes, the games have looked different. But the Commanders are still searching for wins.
“As much as it is a confidence boost, and the games looked very different than they did before … we didn’t do enough to win,” Reaves said. “It doesn’t matter if you play well enough to lose.”
Looking Ahead
Quinn hasn’t made any long-term declarations about whether he’ll keep the play-calling duties into next season. But it’s clear he’s found a groove - and more importantly, a structure - that’s working for him and his team.
The defensive turnaround may not be dramatic on the stat sheet, but for a team that was spiraling just a few weeks ago, the shift is meaningful. The Commanders are playing cleaner, faster, and with more purpose on defense. And while the wins haven’t come yet, the foundation Quinn is laying could prove valuable - both for the rest of this season and beyond.
For now, the message is simple: the Commanders are fighting. And with Quinn back at the controls on defense, they’re starting to look like a team that still believes it has something to prove.