The Washington Commanders might be watching Super Bowl LX from home this year, but their fingerprints are all over the big game. After a breakout 12-5 season in 2024, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington looked like a team on the rise.
That playoff run, which ended just one game shy of Super Bowl LIX, gave fans a glimpse of what could be. But 2025 was a different story.
Injuries piled up - Daniels missed 10 games - and the Commanders never found their rhythm.
Still, as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks prepare to square off in Sunday’s Super Bowl, Washington’s presence is felt on both sidelines. From front office executives to key players and seasoned coaches, the Commanders’ connections run deep in this unexpected championship matchup between Drake Maye's Patriots and Sam Darnold's Seahawks.
Let’s take a closer look at how the Commanders’ past is woven into the fabric of this year’s Super Bowl rosters.
Seattle Seahawks
John Schneider - President of Football Operations/General Manager
Schneider has built one of the most consistent front offices in the NFL since taking over in Seattle back in 2010.
Under his leadership, the Seahawks have now reached their third Super Bowl, with one Lombardi Trophy already in the case. But before he became one of the league’s most respected GMs, Schneider spent a pivotal season in Washington in 2001 as the vice president of player personnel under Marty Schottenheimer.
That year marked a promising, if short-lived, chapter - both Schneider and Schottenheimer were let go after just one season, a decision that remains one of the more infamous missteps of the Dan Snyder era.
Kirk Olivadotti - Inside Linebackers Coach
Few coaches have as deep a history with Washington as Olivadotti.
His tenure spanned 16 years over two stints - from 2000 to 2010 and then again from 2014 to 2018. During that time, he worked under a who's who of Washington head coaches: Norv Turner, Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Joe Gibbs, Jim Zorn, Mike Shanahan, and Jay Gruden.
That kind of longevity - especially in a franchise known for its coaching turnover - speaks volumes about Olivadotti’s ability to adapt and develop talent at the linebacker position.
Jake Peetz - Offensive Passing Game Coordinator
Peetz’s NFL journey included a stop in Washington back in 2014, when he served as an offensive quality control assistant under Jay Gruden. While his role was more behind-the-scenes, it was an early stepping stone in a coaching career that has since seen him take on more prominent offensive responsibilities.
Trent Kirchner - Vice President of Player Personnel
Kirchner is another front office figure with ties to Washington’s 2001 season. He served as the college scouting coordinator under Schneider, helping evaluate talent during a year that - despite being cut short - laid the groundwork for several future NFL contributors.
New England Patriots
Morgan Moses - Right Tackle
A familiar face for Washington fans, Moses was a rock on the offensive line for seven seasons.
Drafted in 2014, he made 97 starts in 104 appearances before being released in 2021. Now in his 12th NFL season, Moses brings veteran leadership and playoff experience to a Patriots team that has leaned heavily on its offensive line to support young quarterback Drake Maye.
His presence in this Super Bowl is a testament to his durability and consistency over the years.
Antonio Gibson - Running Back (Injured Reserve)
Gibson’s time in Washington was marked by explosive versatility.
A third-round pick in 2020, he racked up over 2,600 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground, while adding another 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns through the air across 61 games. Though currently sidelined with a torn ACL, Gibson remains a key part of New England’s offensive plans moving forward - and his production in Washington showed just how dangerous he can be when healthy.
Craig Reynolds - Running Back (Practice Squad/Injured)
Reynolds’ NFL path has been more winding.
He originally signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2019. While he didn’t make the final roster, he did stick around on the practice squad for a time before being released.
Fast forward to today, and Reynolds is part of the Patriots’ depth chart, albeit currently injured and on the practice squad. It’s a reminder of how many players’ careers begin with quiet, unheralded stints that still shape their journey.
The Commanders’ Imprint on Super Bowl LX
This Super Bowl might not feature Washington on the field, but the connections are undeniable. From the front office minds who once helped shape the team’s direction, to players and coaches who spent formative years in the nation’s capital, the Commanders’ legacy is part of this championship moment.
It’s a reminder that in the NFL, success is rarely built in isolation. Teams are shaped by the people who pass through - whether for a season or a decade. And while Washington’s 2025 campaign didn’t end the way fans hoped, the franchise’s influence is still being felt on the game’s biggest stage.