The Washington Commanders, set to face the Detroit Lions in the divisional round, have wildly exceeded expectations and now find themselves thriving under pressure.
Washington secured a dramatic road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round, clinching victory with a last-second field goal. Predicted to win just 6.5 games this season, the Commanders have doubled that total after their first playoff success.
This resurgence is fueled by standout rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick, and savvy leadership from new owner Josh Harris. First-year general manager Adam Peters is a leading contender for Executive of the Year, while head coach Dan Quinn has excelled with his strategic decisions, guiding the team to 13 wins.
Quinn’s hiring came shortly after Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson chose to stay in Detroit. Just four days later, Washington appointed Quinn, who previously served as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.
Here’s a closer look at Quinn’s NFL background and impact on Washington.
Dan Quinn’s NFL Background
Quinn’s second stint as a head coach follows a five-year run with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-2020), where he reached Super Bowl 51 but infamously lost after holding a 25-point lead. The Falcons went 43-42 under Quinn, who was fired in 2020 following an 0-5 start.
Before Atlanta, Quinn worked his way up through NFL coaching ranks, starting as a defensive quality control assistant for the San Francisco 49ers in 2001 and later becoming a defensive line coach for multiple teams, including Miami, the New York Jets, and Seattle.
He briefly returned to college football as Florida’s defensive coordinator before rejoining Seattle in 2013 to oversee the “Legion of Boom” defense, which helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl in 2014. After two years leading that dominant unit, he took the head coaching job in Atlanta.
After his tenure with the Falcons, Quinn spent three seasons as Dallas’ defensive coordinator before taking over in Washington.
Commanders’ Defensive Turnaround
The Commanders had the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft due to owning the league’s worst defense and lacking a true starting quarterback in 2023.
Daniels resolved the quarterback issue, while Quinn orchestrated a defensive revival. Washington, which ranked last in points and yards allowed in 2023, improved to 18th in scoring defense (23.0 points per game) and 13th in total defense (326.9 yards per game) in 2024.
Quinn and Peters reshaped the defense, adding familiar players like Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. from Quinn’s time in Dallas, as well as linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. Draft selections like nickel corner Mike Sainristil and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton further bolstered the unit.
Aggressive Playcalling with “Gamblin’ Dan”
Quinn’s aggressive coaching style mirrors that of Lions head coach Dan Campbell, particularly in game management.
The Commanders attempted 23 fourth-down conversions during the regular season, succeeding on 87% (20 attempts). Though this ranked 17th in attempts, it showcased an effective approach.
Against Tampa Bay, the Commanders fully embraced risk-taking. They didn’t punt once, attempting five fourth-down conversions and succeeding on three, including a critical touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin to secure a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
