Dan Quinn isn’t blinking.
With questions about his job security hanging over the Washington Commanders as the 2026 campaign approaches, the head coach is leaning harder into his approach, not backing away from it. In a conversation with ESPN insider John Keim, Quinn came across as steady and convinced that the way he has run the offseason is the right way to get Washington moving again.
That confidence runs through everything he said.
“I've been doing it a long time, so I have a lot of confidence in what we're doing and how we're doing it. You were asking about the pressure earlier.
I do love it. I don't think of it any different when we're hitting all the marks and I don't think of it any different when we're not.
“I just want to do a really good job for the coaches. I want to do a really good job for the players, and if I do that, man, I can put my head on the pillow knowing that like, man, I had really high standards.”
That’s the posture Quinn has taken all offseason: keep the focus on the work in front of him and let everything else sort itself out later. He knows this is a results business, and he knows what usually follows if the record doesn’t improve. But he’s not letting that pull him off course.
What has stood out is how determined he’s remained after last season’s collapse. Quinn didn’t lose the locker room when Washington fell apart, and the players have responded to the sharper pace this offseason. That kind of urgency matters, especially after a five-win year that left a sour taste across the building.
Nobody felt that more than Quinn.
Even with injuries playing a role, he wasn’t interested in using them as cover. The message now is about moving on, absorbing the lessons, and answering the disappointment with better football.
Around the Commanders, the mood doesn’t sound like a team consumed by hot-seat chatter. It sounds like a group that still believes Quinn is the right leader for the job.
The changes he helped drive this offseason back that up. General manager Adam Peters overhauled the roster, but Quinn also made a bold move by replacing both his offensive and defensive coordinators. That decision stripped away any easy scapegoats and showed he was willing to trust two rookie NFL play-callers in the name of pushing the team forward.
The contrast with last summer is hard to miss. The Commanders are carrying themselves with a different edge now. The article describes a shift from complacency to defiance, from going through the motions to playing with aggression, from getting ahead of themselves after their surprising run to the NFC Championship game to understanding how quickly things can go sideways.
That slide was unacceptable, and the record made that plain.
There is also a practical challenge in front of them. Losing left tackle Laremy Tunsil is a blow, and Washington’s early schedule before the bye week is a tough one. Quinn is asking for more, and the players are answering, but the margin for a slow start is thin.
For now, though, the Commanders are following his lead. Quinn is embracing the pressure instead of running from it, trying to turn it into fuel as Washington heads toward the regular season.
In Other News...
Commanders Have 5 Players Under Pressure In Dolphins Practice
Wednesdays joint practice with the Dolphins offers the Commanders a useful mid-August measuring stick, and for a handful of players it is a chance to make the next few days matter. Ahead of Fridays preseason game, Antonio Williams, Julian Good-Jones, Brandon Coleman, Sonny Styles and Mike Sainristil are all set to be watched closely as Washington sorts through roles, reps and roster value.
For players trying to carve out a place on the team, this is the kind of setting that can move the needle. The pace is sharper than a normal camp session and the evaluation is more direct, which is why this workout could be especially important for those five as they try to turn a practice opportunity into real playing time. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Left Joint Practice With One Early Problem They Cant Ignore
The Commanders got an early look at where they still need work in their joint practice with the Dolphins, and special teams stood out quickly as a problem area. Miami found room on kick returns, exposing Washingtons coverage unit and reminding everyone that the third phase of the game can swing momentum long before the offense or defense settle in.
Special teams coordinator Larry Izzo and the staff have time to clean it up, and they will need to, because the Commanders have several young, athletic players who could help stabilize that unit if they take to the job. Joint practices are built to surface issues like this before the games matter, and Washington came away with one of the less flattering reminders a coach can get. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A New Edge Rusher Worth Watching Closely
The Commanders defense turned in a strong showing during its joint practice against the Dolphins, and one of the more intriguing developments came from a player still trying to establish himself in the rotation. Javontae Jean-Baptiste, a 2024 seventh-round pick, flashed the kind of pass-rushing ability that can quickly get a coachs attention, especially for a young edge defender trying to carve out a role on a crowded roster.
Jean-Baptistes path has already included a long recovery from a season-ending injury, which makes any encouraging practice rep feel a little more meaningful for Washington. With competition at edge rusher still very much alive, his performance against Miami gave him a chance to separate himself, and it added another name to watch as the Commanders continue sorting out the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]