One year ago, the Washington Commanders were riding high - a 12-5 finish, a trip to the NFC Championship Game, and a rookie quarterback who looked like the future of the league. Jayden Daniels wasn’t just good - he was electric.
Washington had swagger, momentum, and for the first time in a long time, real belief. Fast forward 365 days, and the picture couldn’t look more different.
The 2025 season has been defined by injuries, inconsistency, and a painful sense of “what could’ve been.” Daniels, who captured the league’s attention as a breakout star in 2024, hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
He’s been sidelined four separate times, and now, with the season winding down, he’s officially out. Every time it looked like he might return and find a rhythm, the injury bug bit again - either him or one of his key weapons.
Terry McLaurin, Austin Ekeler, Zach Ertz - all have missed time, and the offense never had a chance to settle into the groove we saw last year.
Now, the Commanders are down to their third quarterback. On Christmas Day, it’ll be 39-year-old Josh Johnson under center, stepping in for the injured Marcus Mariota.
Johnson’s been around the league more times than most can count, and while his experience is valuable, it’s a stark reminder of how far this team has fallen in just 12 months. The Commanders’ 2025 season has been Murphy’s Law in action - if something could go wrong, it has.
And the fans have felt it. Just a year ago, Northwest Stadium was buzzing.
The stands were packed with Washington jerseys, and the energy was undeniable. This season, the home field has felt more like neutral ground - or worse, enemy territory.
Visiting fans are filling seats that once belonged to a rejuvenated Commanders faithful.
The Pro Bowl voting tells a similar story. In 2024, Washington had 10 players ranked in the top 10 at their positions.
This year? Just one - veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner, who came in at No. 8 among inside linebackers.
That’s it. That’s the list.
It’s a sharp contrast to the excitement and recognition this team generated just a season ago.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears - a team Washington stunned last year with a last-second “Hail Mary” - have flipped the script. They’re now leading the NFC North, playing with confidence, and seeing their own players rack up Pro Bowl votes. It’s a full-circle moment that underscores just how quickly things can change in the NFL.
For Washington, it’s been a season defined by setbacks, missed opportunities, and a roster that never got a fair shot to build on last year’s success. The pieces are still there, but they’ve been scattered by injuries and instability. As the season wraps up, it’s clear that for many in the Commanders’ fan base, the end of 2025 can’t come soon enough.