ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders’ coaching staff is undergoing a total makeover just one year after an improbable NFC Championship run. On Tuesday, head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury agreed to mutually part ways, ending a tenure that soured as the team slid to a 5-12 record and the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The honeymoon phase in D.C. ended abruptly in 2025. While the 2024 season saw Jayden Daniels capture Offensive Rookie of the Year honors under Kingsbury’s guidance, the encore was a disaster. Daniels missed 10 games due to recurring injuries, leaving a stagnant offense to flounder under backup Josh Johnson. Washington’s scoring plummeted to 27th in the league, while the defense—under the now-fired Joe Whitt Jr.—bottomed out at 32nd in total yards allowed.
Internal friction also played a role. Reports from The Athletic suggest a growing rift between Kingsbury and General Manager Adam Peters regarding the direction of the “no-huddle” system that appeared increasingly predictable to opposing defenses. Despite the 24-17 season-ending win over Philadelphia, the decision to move on became inevitable during a Tuesday meeting between Quinn and Kingsbury.
| Category | NFL Rank | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Total Offense | 22nd | 318.8 YPG |
| Scoring Defense | 27th | 25.8 PPG |
| Passing Offense | 24th | 195.8 YPG |
| Total Defense | 32nd | 384.3 YPG |
“I love working with Kliff. Me and him have a special relationship. I kind of just wish I was out there more to play for him this past year.” — Jayden Daniels, Commanders Quarterback
Kingsbury won’t stay on the market for long. The Tennessee Titans have already signaled interest in interviewing him for their head coaching vacancy, eyeing a potential pairing with 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward. The New York Giants are also monitoring the situation as they look to revitalize an offense that has struggled to find an identity.
For Dan Quinn, the pressure is on to find a play-caller who can maximize Jayden Daniels’ championship window. With defensive stalwarts like Bobby Wagner hitting 2,000 career tackles but the unit as a whole failing to stop a nosebleed, Quinn is expected to take a more hands-on approach with the defense while seeking an “innovator” for the offensive side of the ball. The Commanders now enter an offseason defined by the need for stability after their 2024 spark officially fizzled out.
