ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders’ changing room was a lively place last month. With holiday tunes drifting through the space, some players were absorbed in a card game at one table, while others enjoyed an assortment of cookies from three containers on a separate surface.
One might not have guessed this was the facility of a team with a 4-11 record. Historically, during the conclusion of disappointing campaigns—a common occurrence in Washington—prominent team members would often be absent when reporters were present, seeking to avoid yet again articulating the reasons for another unsuccessful year. Tensions were palpable. Across the league, similar situations saw players exhibiting reduced dedication to preparation for upcoming training sessions and matches.
However, players in Washington indicated a different atmosphere prevailed this season.
“I assure you, our team’s internal dynamic surpasses that of many clubs enjoying successful seasons,” a player commented.
Just prior to Christmas, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who has only seen one victorious season during his seven years with the organization, highlighted a contingent of players who consistently enjoyed each other’s company and socialized in the team’s quarters. The offensive line unit, for instance, had arranged an excursion to Florida for the subsequent week.
“I’ve witnessed truly dire times, and this isn’t comparable,” stated safety Jeremy Reaves, a Washington veteran since 2018, speaking two days ahead of the season’s final game. “It was far from that point. Consequently, I never genuinely felt, ‘Oh no, things are about to completely unravel.'”
But positive team spirit alone doesn’t bring accolades. While player morale remained strong, nearly every other aspect faltered during a disappointing 5-12 season. Pre-season contract discussions with McLaurin extended beyond anticipated timelines. Crucial player injuries—with quarterback Jayden Daniels experiencing three separate issues—were too frequent and serious to surmount. Moreover, erratic on-field performance and disagreements over offensive strategies off the field led to a significant personnel overhaul within two days of the offseason commencement. Washington’s coach, Dan Quinn, dismissed both his offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) and defensive coordinator (Joe Whitt), along with another assistant—individuals he had recruited just two years earlier.
Presently, approximately a year following an outstanding 12-5 season that fostered considerable hopes and confidence heading into the autumn, the occurrences of 2025 have prompted extensive self-examination within the organization. This precedes what has evolved into a more critical offseason than Washington initially foresaw. The team now faces the task of appointing two new coordinators and revitalizing an aging roster with more youthful, agile players. Additionally, it needs to finalize a new agreement with another vital offensive contributor with greater ease. Lastly, the franchise must establish methods to ensure the squad maintains better health in 2026 compared to 2025.
“Difficult choices are necessary,” Quinn remarked, “yet if I were to quantify the insights we’ve acquired [from this campaign]? Truly, the volume is immense.”
THE CHALLENGING CHOICES commenced on Tuesday with the alterations in coaching staff roles.
Whitt had collaborated with Quinn for six years across three distinct teams. Nevertheless, frequent breakdowns in execution caused a defense that performed adequately in 2024 to collapse in 2025, ending up last in total yards surrendered and 27th in points, as noted by several players and coaches.
As the team seeks Whitt’s successor, Washington has obtained authorization to speak with Patrick Graham, the Raiders’ defensive coordinator. Other potential candidates include Raheem Morris, previously Atlanta’s head coach, and Jeff Ulbrich, the Falcons’ defensive coordinator, both having prior experience working alongside Quinn.
Kingsbury’s departure by mutual agreement, however, caught many off guard. Numerous individuals within the team and the broader league confessed difficulty comprehending the decision, particularly considering Washington’s offensive achievements in 2024, which saw it placed fifth in scoring and seventh in total yardage during an unexpected NFC championship game run. The Commanders’ performance dropped to 22nd in both categories this season, a downturn predominantly attributed to significant injuries among crucial players, notably Daniels.
Yet, this change underscored a fundamental disagreement concerning the unit’s direction. Quinn and Kingsbury reportedly held differing views on the future offensive strategy, as per several team and league informants. Multiple team insiders indicated that Quinn desired an altered offensive character and frequently conveyed to his coaching staff a preference for improved equilibrium between rushing and passing plays—an objective that will influence his selection of a new coordinator.
Any underlying strategic disagreements last year were obscured by their victories. A team source indicated that the current season revealed this divergence. Washington increased its ground game usage late in the season, ending up ninth in total rushing attempts—but only 25th in carries by its running backs. Last season, the Commanders stood fifth and nineteenth in these categories, respectively.
The promptness of Quinn’s decision regarding Kingsbury drew attention from certain observers. Multiple sources within the team and across the league believe that should Quinn fail to achieve success in Washington, a third opportunity as a head coach is improbable. Therefore, delaying action until it was irreversible was not a viable path. Quinn himself has previously articulated this sentiment: during his tenure as Atlanta’s head coach, he admitted to a past inclination to postpone certain personnel changes. He was determined not to repeat that hesitation in Washington.
Many players, including Daniels, expressed appreciation for Kingsbury and his offensive schemes; Daniels had previously spoken of a unique bond with his former offensive coordinator. Daniels also maintains a close connection with assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough, who has attracted interest from Detroit for their offensive coordinator role. However, Washington aims to retain Blough, according to various team sources, and he is a candidate to succeed Kingsbury. The fate of backup QB Marcus Mariota, acquired last season to guide Daniels, might also be in question, depending on the identity of the incoming offensive coordinator.
This potential wave of exits—including the departure of quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard, who left the team in November to assume the head coaching role at Stanford—could significantly dismantle the support system Washington’s cornerstone quarterback has benefited from during his initial two seasons. An individual familiar with Daniels’ background informed ESPN that he has been prepared to navigate challenging circumstances.
“He possesses the versatility to perform under any coach,” the individual affirmed.
Conversely, those knowledgeable about the circumstances and intimately familiar with Quinn indicated that preserving the existing staff, given Quinn and Kingsbury’s divergent philosophies, would have entailed considerable peril. A team insider stated that the objective is for all coaching personnel to be in complete agreement—a state that, according to multiple other sources, was absent last season. Drawing upon his previous experience in Atlanta, several individuals acquainted with the situation suggested Quinn’s swift action aimed to prevent a more profound division from emerging in 2026.
“It is imperative to act in the best interest of your organization. If you perceive a need for change and then fail to implement it, a year from now, everyone faces termination,” disclosed an insider familiar with the events.
MCLAURIN WAS ABSENT FROM the final fortnight of voluntary team workouts in May, the compulsory minicamp in June, and the entirety of training camp due to a contractual disagreement that had far-reaching consequences for Washington’s season.
His new agreement was ultimately finalized on August 25th—a mere 13 days prior to the inaugural game of the season. However, he and Daniels encountered difficulties re-establishing the rapport they shared in 2024, when their combined efforts yielded 70 receptions, 944 yards, and 12 scores. McLaurin recorded only seven catches for 75 yards during Washington’s initial two contests of 2025, subsequently sustained a right quadricep injury in Week 3, leading to an eight-game absence. In sum, he and Daniels achieved only 10 completions for 116 yards and no touchdowns this season.
“For a sophomore quarterback, even one of the most gifted in the league, the optimal method for progress involves accumulating practical experience and repetition,” McLaurin stated in late December. “This was an element we lacked.”
Such an outcome was not intentionally orchestrated.
“Both the organization and Terry would concur that we would have preferred to finalize that more promptly,” GM Adam Peters noted. “While there were contributing factors, ideally, such matters are concluded earlier than ours was. …This also serves as a valuable lesson. Initiating these discussions sooner and ideally reaching a resolution before the point we did this time is something we will certainly pursue going forward.”
During his contract holdout, McLaurin did not consistently observe practice sessions. However, on one particular occasion, while watching an internal team scrimmage, he sensed a lack of something on the offensive sideline. He then saw an offensive colleague forcefully tackled at the conclusion of a play. Previously, such instances might have seen McLaurin rushing to assist his teammate or confronting the opposing player. Some kind of response. Yet, no one reacted.
“The vibrancy I infuse into the offense and the squad, the drive to compete, was absent,” he conveyed.
He was not the sole observer of this deficit.
Toward the end of training camp, Kingsbury, feeling vexed, pointed out the challenge of preparing the offense for the season when McLaurin—along with several other injured players—was not participating in drills. Quinn, for his part, continuously emphasized the necessity for McLaurin and Daniels to accumulate more practice together.
Subsequently, as the season progressed, Kingsbury summarized the challenges encountered by the offense without McLaurin.
“The permissible degree of deviation steadily diminishes in Terry’s absence from the field.”
Washington seeks to prevent a recurrence of prolonged contract discussions this offseason involving another of its premier offensive talents: left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Tunsil’s current agreement expires in a year, and Peters and his colleagues express a desire to secure him for an extended period. Coaching staff consider him among the league’s top three tackles. Toward the season’s end, Kingsbury light-heartedly remarked that Tunsil was “on track for a substantial payday.”
Peters reported that the organization and Tunsil, who self-negotiates, have maintained “ongoing dialogue.”
“Our strong intent is to finalize an agreement with him expeditiously,” Peters declared.
Upon inquiry, McLaurin indicated that such an outcome would benefit everyone implicated, drawing from his and the team’s experiences last season.
“I wouldn’t precisely use the term ‘regret’,” he commented regarding his approach to the matter, “but I do find it regrettable that it wasn’t resolved in a manner that honored the timing of the season. I believe both parties bear some responsibility for that. I think both sides would wish to have acted differently.”
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE’S MOST AGED squad as of the 2025 season will necessitate a rejuvenation in 2026.
This season, Washington featured 27 athletes aged 30 or above, either on the active roster at season’s end or on injured reserve, providing veteran presence in certain positions but creating a deficit of foundational talent for the future elsewhere. A significant contributor to this situation has been suboptimal recent draft performances. None of the seven first-round selections made by the Commanders between 2020 and 2023 are still with the team, and merely two second-round picks persist.
“This topic has been frequently discussed, and I believe quite rightly from numerous angles,” Peters remarked concerning the team’s older composition. “The constant aim is to acquire more youthful and quicker players, and I anticipate this will be a primary focus for us during the upcoming offseason.”
Washington is slated to possess six selections in the draft this April, among them the seventh overall pick. The Commanders also command roughly $90 million in salary cap room, though only 36 players are under contract for the subsequent season. An additional $18.5 million in cap flexibility can be generated by releasing cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who sustained an ACL tear in November.
The team has established a robust offensive line, with merely one present starter—left guard Chris Paul—being a prospective free agent. They possess Daniels and McLaurin. While additional components might be beneficial, a core structure exists. Defensively, uncertainties prevail. An offensive assistant from a rival team that encountered Washington in the latter half of the season disclosed that the only two players generating genuine concern were defensive tackles Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw.
The Commanders find optimism in the progression of second-year linebacker Jordan Magee and appreciated the performance of rookie cornerback Trey Amos before he suffered a leg fracture in Week 10. However, their roster includes only two defensive linemen under the age of 25: Jer’Zhan Newton, a 2024 second-round draft selection; and Drake Jackson, a 2022 second-round pick by San Francisco who had restricted playing opportunities in 2025.
“We have numerous positions to evaluate,” Peters stated. “Acquiring another pass rusher would undeniably be a priority. Whether through the draft or free agency, I believe we possess ample favorable choices in both avenues.”
However, the prospect of a rebound season in 2026 hinges on a multitude of decisions, ranging from the appointment of coordinators to the progression of prior draft selections and new players brought in during the offseason.
Furthermore, maintaining better physical condition is crucial.
During 2025, Washington saw 12 athletes, serving as either starters or vital reserves, miss a minimum of seven games, with four missing at least ten. In contrast, 2024 saw only a single primary contributor miss seven or more regular season contests. Daniels, initially considered an MVP contender for the season, participated in only four complete games. McLaurin, who had an unbroken streak of 72 games and was fresh from a Pro Bowl selection, appeared in 10.
“This is an aspect we can genuinely rely upon and assert, ‘All right, we can delve deeper into this and expect improved fortune next year,'” Peters commented, “while also continuing to incorporate sound individuals and recover those players we previously lost, which is equally significant. Reintegrating many of those players will substantially alter our appearance.”
