The idea of Kyle Shanahan landing in Washington makes for a fun thought experiment, but the path from rumor to reality is full of roadblocks.
That conversation picked up when NFL insider Jason La Canfora listed a bold prediction for the upcoming season, saying this could be Shanahan’s last year with the San Francisco 49ers. La Canfora even connected him to the Commanders, adding, "A return to Washington to work with Jayden Daniels would be something."
On paper, the appeal is obvious. Shanahan is one of the league’s most accomplished coaches, and Washington is entering Year 3 of the Dan Quinn era after a strong first season that ended with the Commanders reaching the NFC Championship for the first time since the 1991 season. But Year 2 never came close to matching that rise, with injuries ripping through the roster and ultimately sinking the season.
Still, getting Shanahan to Washington would take more than wishful thinking. First, he would have to leave San Francisco, and that is far from simple.
La Canfora pointed to the 49ers’ expiring contracts and aging roster as reasons he doesn’t see much reason for Shanahan to stay, but Shanahan is still under contract through 2027. It’s doubtful the 49ers would move on from him, and it’s just as doubtful that he would walk away and leave money behind.
There’s also the matter of what role he would even fill. If La Canfora meant head coach, that would obviously mean Quinn is out of the job. If he meant offensive coordinator, that creates a different problem: after 10 years as a successful head coach, two Super Bowl appearances and four NFC title game trips, Shanahan would almost certainly have plenty of head coaching options before ever considering a step back.
And then there’s the personal history. Shanahan’s father, Mike Shanahan, had a rough run with the organization, and Kyle was on Washington’s staff during that period. Even with a new regime in place, that kind of baggage does not disappear overnight.
Shanahan and Quinn also have history from Atlanta, where Shanahan served as offensive coordinator under Quinn with the Falcons, including the infamous 28-3 Super Bowl. There is still respect there, but that doesn’t make a Commanders reunion any easier to picture.
So yes, the idea of Shanahan in Washington is an appealing one. But even with the connections, the contract, the role questions and the old wounds, it feels like a long shot. Never say never, but probably not.
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Commanders May Be Nearing The End With One Of Their Steadiest Veterans
Tress Way has been one of the most familiar fixtures in Washington for more than a decade, handling punting duties for the Commanders since 2014 and earning a reputation as one of the steadiest veterans in the building. He has been selected to three Pro Bowls and was recently voted a team captain for the fifth time, a reminder of how long he has meant something to this team beyond just flipping field position.
Now, Way has told reporters the 2026 season may be his final one, and he has already informed general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn that he is strongly considering retirement. For a player who has been such a constant through so much organizational change, the possibility of the end of his run adds a little more weight to what has long been one of Washingtons quietest but most dependable positions. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Depth Chart Just Settled A Few Camp Battles Early
The first depth chart of camp usually says as much about the tone of a summer as it does about the roster, and Washingtons initial 2026 version already offers a few early clues. Treylon Burks is listed as the third wide receiver ahead of rookie Antonio Williams, while undrafted rookie Tanoa Togiai shows up as the backup at both guard spots, an indication that the Commanders are at least comfortable giving young players meaningful placement this early.
Elsewhere, the defensive picture looks familiar, with the top cornerbacks and safeties holding steady from what the staff has been using around camp. Special teams brings the clearest change, with Stevens installed as the new kicker after winning the job over Jake Moody, while the rest of that unit still leans on returning pieces as Washington starts sorting out the last few corners of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Enter Week 1 With A Different Look And Real Pressure
The opener has a way of stripping away all the offseason noise, and for the Commanders, it arrives with Philadelphia wearing a different look than the one that closed last season on top. The Eagles come in off a Super Bowl run but have spent the offseason reshaping the roster, creating a new kind of early test for a division rival that has not always found consistency of its own. For Washington, Week 1 is less about proving any grand theory and more about seeing how it stacks up against a team that still carries real weight, even after the changes.
Philadelphias pressure point is obvious enough. A title changes expectations, and major roster adjustments only sharpen the scrutiny when the first meaningful game arrives. Washington will be watching closely for how the Eagles settle into their new form, because the opener can reveal more than a month of speculation ever could. For a Commanders team trying to find steadier footing, this matchup is a chance to learn quickly whether the gap looks the same, smaller, or something in between. [Read more 🡒]