Dan Quinn’s QB Coach Hire Raises Eyebrows Inside Washington

So why is this important? For those not familiar with Washington Commanders history, Doug Williams is beloved in Washington DC.  He helped carry Washington a victory in Super Bowl XXII over John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

Who Is Doug Williams?

While it may not seem like a big deal on paper, including someone like the Senior Advisor in the search makes sense. Williams is not just another front office voice. He is one of the most respected figures tied to the organization, both historically and internally. As a Super Bowl MVP and longtime advisor in the building, his perspective on quarterback development carries some serious weight and credibility. His absence from the search for a quarterbacks coach is certainly noteworthy.

Is There Dissension in Washington?

To date, there has been no leak of dissension between Quinn and Williams. However, one has to imagine that Williams was not thrilled about being left out of the search. None of this confirms conflict. But it does raise the following question. Who is usually involved in these types of decisions in Washington? One would think that the Senior Advisor to the GM would be made aware well ahead of time.

The Reason Why Quinn Kept Williams in the Dark

In all likelihood, Quinn did not leave Doug Williams to be disrespectful. He did it on purpose. Quinn thought it might not be the best idea to have Doug sit in on the process, because DJ Williams is his son. Even though DJ earned the job o his own merit, the question of nepotism would likely run rampant. In addition to the fear of potential nepotism, Quinn would have had to explain to DJ’s father why he did not get the job if that had been the case. Clearly, that would not be an easy conversation to have with executive management. Instead of putting himself and Doug Williams in a precarious situation, he handled the evaluation on his own. While Quinn’s process was meant with the best intentions, he still skirted procedure.

Does Dan Quinn Have Final Say?

While there were certainly extenuating circumstances in this case, the reality is that all hires should be discussed with the GM, or in this case the Special Advisor to the GM, regardless of whether a family member is interviewing for a position. Under previous management, Washington’s owner was very hands-on with all coaching and personnel hires. The new regime under Josh Harris seems to be giving his head coach a considerable amount of autonomy in his search for coaches with minimal executive oversight. Over the past twenty-five years in Washington, the real story is often not the hire. But more so, who had a seat at the table. For once, it appears that the head coach has the final stamp of approval.