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The Commanders' matchup against the Dolphins could be a look at a major offseason move with a deep connection
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The Commanders' matchup against the Dolphins could be a look at a major offseason move with a deep connection

Originally posted on A to Z Sports  |  By Josh Taylor  |  Last updated Nov 15, 2025 2:31 PM ET

The Washington Commanders are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in Madrid, Spain, against the Miami Dolphins, and there could be a lot more on the line than a win or a loss.

The season hasn't gone as expected, and head coach Dan Quinn has already taken over as defensive coordinator, and a lot more changes could be on the way. The Commanders may need to replace offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as well, and Quinn could get a live look at a heavy favorite to replace Kingsbury if he leaves.

The connection between Quinn and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel goes beyond football, and a reunion could be in the near future.

Dan Quinn could be facing his next offensive coordinator

Quinn has a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason, including firing his right-hand man, Joe Whitt Jr, and he may have to replace Kingsbury as well. Many top college teams and even current NFL openings, like the New York Giants, could be interested in stealing a young, offensive-minded coach in Kingsbury.

Losing two coordinators, including the one guy who has worked with franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels since he was drafted, isn't ideal, so they would have to hit a home run on the hire. McDaniel has had his bumps in the road as a head coach, but there's no denying that he's one of the top offensive gurus in the league. Quinn knows that firsthand after working with him in Atlanta.

"So, one, I've known Mike [McDaniel] to be an excellent coach," Quinn said. He can process things so quickly. It's no surprise to see that his offense can throw the ball the quickest. They can have the fastest motions. That's Mike to a T. Where he can just think so quickly about it. When Mike left Atlanta for San Francisco, I knew he'd make an impact there. And then you'd see that during his time in Miami. And so, the work with the quarterback, with the offense, that's where he is at his best. He's quick; he can get to the next play quickly, to the next concept. So yeah, man, I really enjoyed working with Mike; he's one of my favorite coaches.”

Mike McDaniel has a special bond with Dan Quinn

We all know that Quinn is a people person, and he loves to stick by his guys like he has with Whitt Jr. McDaniel is absolutely in that coaching family tree of Quinn's, and they're bonded for life because of their time together.

McDaniel hit rock bottom, but fought his way through personal trials and became sober. But that was just the beginning of his comeback story. Quinn was one of the coaches who sat down with McDaniel about his drinking problem and gave him a chance to return once he got his life back on track, and that's exactly what he did. McDaniel says that he is forever indebted to Quinn for what he did.

There are still several weeks left in the season, but changes have already been made, and the NFL is expected to go through a major shift around the league with players and coaching staffs. This offseason can be one of the craziest ever, and the Commanders could be one of those teams to undergo major changes in general manager Adam Peters' most important offseason in Washington.

Quinn sticks with his guys, and McDaniel would be a homerun hire to revamp the offense with Kingsbury as a top target for many teams in the NFL and college.

This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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