The Washington Commanders' 2025 season has been nothing short of a letdown. A year removed from a surprising NFC Championship Game appearance, the team has stumbled to a 4-10 record heading into Week 16. Injuries have played their part-most notably to quarterback Jayden Daniels-but the overall regression has raised serious questions, particularly about head coach Dan Quinn’s future.
Quinn, known for his defensive pedigree, hasn’t been able to get his unit on track. The Commanders’ defense has been one of the league’s least effective, giving up 26.8 points per game-bottom ten in the NFL-and surrendering 382.6 yards per game, the second-worst mark in the league. For a coach whose calling card has long been defensive toughness and discipline, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Despite the struggles, it appears Quinn’s job is safe-for now. Reports indicate that team owner Josh Harris still believes in Quinn’s leadership and his ability to hold the locker room together through a turbulent season. All signs point to Quinn returning for a third year at the helm in 2026.
That said, changes are likely coming to the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., a longtime Quinn assistant, had play-calling duties stripped from him in November after a disastrous first half of the season. It’s widely expected that Whitt won’t be back next year, signaling a shake-up on the defensive side of the ball even if Quinn remains in charge.
The decision to stick with Quinn isn’t without logic. Just last season, he led this team to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident, and it’s clear he has the respect of the locker room and the trust of ownership. But with Jayden Daniels expected to return healthy in 2026, the pressure will be on.
There won’t be room for excuses next season. If the Commanders stumble again, Quinn’s seat could go from warm to scorching in a hurry.
For now, Washington is betting on continuity over chaos. But the margin for error just got a whole lot slimmer.