Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has moved even closer to the fire.
CBS analyst Bryan DeArdo placed Quinn second in his latest hot seat rankings, behind only Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, after Washington’s overtime collapse against the New York Giants in Week 5. DeArdo said Quinn’s debut season in Washington “was magic,” but added that the more losses pile up, the farther away that year feels.
“If Quinn wasn't on the hot seat prior to Sunday, he is now following Washington's overtime disaster that prevented the Commanders from getting their second win of the season. Washington is now 6-15-1 under Quinn since the start of the 2025 season.”
The Commanders’ issues this season have not been as easy to pin on injuries as last year’s struggles. Washington is still dealing with plenty of them, but the tie with the Giants was not about unavailable players.
The baffling part was the late-game decision-making, especially the choice to run another play instead of simply kicking the field goal. That call falls on Quinn.
Even with a 1-3-1 record, Washington is not buried in the NFC East. Every team in the division except the Giants is sitting below .500, and there is still a clear road for the Commanders to reach the playoffs.
But if Washington misses out and doesn’t come close to the postseason, Quinn’s future could come into question fast. Another costly mistake like the one against the Giants could push that conversation even further, and possibly put an end to Quinn’s run as the Commanders’ head coach.
In Other News...
Commanders Linebackers Have A Pregame Ritual Fans Wont Believe
Long before kickoff, the Commanders linebacker room has developed a pregame routine that is as unconventional as it is memorable. What began in 2024 has become part of the groups game-day identity, with second-year linebacker Kain Medrano describing it as a way to get energized before heading into action.
The ritual traces back to Frankie Luvu, who brought the idea with him after arriving from Carolina, and it has clearly left an impression inside Washingtons defense. Still, the practice comes with an obvious wrinkle: a neuropsychologist pointed out that while routines can help athletes prepare, alcohol can affect reaction time and hits everyone differently, which makes the whole thing more curious than simple locker-room lore. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Defense Has A Four-Quarter Problem Jones Must Solve
The Commanders keep running into the same frustrating pattern on defense: the first half looks organized and competitive, then the second half slips away with the same personnel and the same scheme still on the field. It has become a lingering issue for a unit Washington has poured resources into, including the draft choice of linebacker Sonny Styles, and it has left the defense trying to prove it can hold its standard for four quarters instead of just two.
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones believes the answer is less about a wholesale overhaul and more about getting back to basics. His message centers on sound fundamentals, calmer play and trusting the process after halftime, which is exactly the kind of reset the Commanders need after watching leads and control fade against teams like the Giants and Colts. For a defense built to carry more weight, the challenge now is turning those first-half flashes into something sustainable. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders OC Zeroes In On One Costly Problem After Fast Start
Jayden Daniels looked like himself again in his return from injury, giving the Commanders the kind of dual-threat spark that had been missing while he was sidelined. Offensive coordinator David Blough pointed to the quarterbacks performance as a bright spot, noting how Daniels moved the offense with both his arm and his legs in a game that offered a cleaner glimpse of what Washington can be when the operation is working.
Still, Blough made clear there was plenty to clean up, and the focus landed quickly on the pre-snap mistakes that stalled what should have been a promising second-quarter scoring chance. For a team trying to build on a fast start, those kinds of penalties can turn a good possession into a wasted one, and the Commanders now have a familiar discipline issue sitting right in the middle of an offense that otherwise looked ready to hit another gear. [Read more 🡒]