Commanders HC Dan Quinn On Hot Seat?

Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt are among the coaches who were replaced in Washington this winter. Those coordinators were dismissed in moves which highlighted the tension between the front office and the coaching staff. Quinn was reportedly not looking to make drastic changes to his staff despite the Commanders’ regression during his second year in charge compared to the first.

Attention will now increasingly turn to the matter of Quinn’s job security. The veteran is viewed as being on the hot seat entering 2026, multiple executives told SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora. Other coaches are considered to be in greater danger as things stand, but a poor showing this season could of course result in increased pressure for a HC change. That will especially be true if the perceived rift between Quinn and general manager Adam Peters increases over time.

Peters, Quinn and others arrived in 2024. The Commanders far exceeded expectations for the year, with the team reaching the NFC title game and quarterback Jayden Daniels taking home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Things went far different last season, with Daniels being limited to seven games and other key players missing considerable time as well. Washington finished 5-12, with Whitt being replaced by Quinn as the team’s defensive play-caller midway through the season. Quinn will not have as large of a presence on that side of the ball in 2026, with Daronte Jones handling DC responsibilities.

One executive who spoke with La Canfora pointed to Sean McDermott as a possible Quinn replacement in Washington. The longtime Bills coach was among many veteran staffers dismissed as part of the 2026 cycle. He will spend the coming season away from the sidelines in advance of a presumed return for the 2027 campaign. With a .662 winning percentage and eight playoff appearances across nine Buffalo years, McDermott will no doubt be among the top candidates on the market next year.

Quinn, 55, was the head coach of the Falcons from 2015 through Week 5 of the 2020 season. That span included a trip to the Super Bowl but ended in poor fashion with respect to Atlanta’s win-loss record. Quinn rebuilt his stock during a three-year stretch leading the Cowboys’ defense, and he enjoyed success upon returning to the head coaching ranks given how 2024 played out. In the event of another down year in Washington, though, Quinn’s job security will become a storyline to follow closely.