Commanders coach Dan Quinn better be right

5 days ago 1

Well, now we know why Commanders coach Dan Quinn didn't compliment offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury when asked directly about Kingsbury's performance with the offense in the 2025 season.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Kingsbury and the Commanders were parting ways. Clearly, Quinn didn't offer a compliment on Monday when he had the opportunity, so clearly, he wasn't happy, at least in some ways, with Kingsbury.

What might Quinn have been unhappy with regarding Kingsbury's offense? Well, overall, the Commanders' offense finished 12th in the NFL for 2025 in yards per offensive play (5.5). Keep in mind that it was with Jayden Daniels, who only finished four games, when he played in only seven games. That's right: for most of the season, Kingsbury had to go with Marcus Mariota, and even QB3 Josh Johnson in the last three games.

Kingsbury's receivers were often missing or playing injured, unable to go deep. Terry McLaurin played 10 games with only 38 receptions. Noah Brown totaled a mere four games and five receptions. Luke McCaffrey was in nine games for 11 receptions. Thank goodness for Deebo Samuel starting 12 games for 72 receptions on 10.1 per reception. Yet the inability to stretch the defense by this receiver group resulted in many too many contested passes and 19 interceptions by the Commanders' quarterbacks.

"Kingsbury did not run it enough," his critics claim. Apparently, they don't know the Commanders ran the ball the ninth most times in the NFL in 2025 (484). Yes, I do recognize that Daniels, Mariota, and Johnson all ran the ball at times. I also recognize they are very mobile, effective runners, which helped move the chains many times. So, the Commanders were effective enough running the ball; they finished fourth in yards rushing (2,290).

They didn't run it enough in the red zone? Well, they were eighth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (20) and fourth in yards per rushing attempt (4.7).

How many times did the defense get off the field this year? Did you know they finished dead last, giving up the most yards in the NFL (6,533)? To make matters worse, the defense finished next to last, only producing Kingsbury's offense with ten takeaways all season. First downs surrendered? Next to last! Stopping the run? 29th! Was the defense anything short of horrible?

So Kingsbury is gone. What do we "know"? We know that in 2024, with Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, Olamide Zachaeus, Zach Ertz, and Dyami Brown in the lineup, Kingsbury's offense was much better. No, that is not fair to Kingsbury. His offense in 2024 was elite, one of the very best in the league. That much we are altogether certain is reality.

Some of you will remember Kingsbury was headed to the Raiders for 2024. Suddenly, Quinn entered and talked with Kingsbury, and the next thing you know, Quinn is hiring Kingsbury as his new offensive coordinator. I like Dan Quinn, but he knew what Kingsbury likes to do, and determined to pursue him and snatch him from the Raiders. Both of his coordinators are already gone after only two years.

So, Quinn has made his choice, and you know what? He'd better be right. Don't be surprised when some of the offensive coaches decide to follow Kingsbury wherever he lands. Don't be surprised if QB2 Marcus Mariota departs as well.

Yes, Quinn needs to be right on this because he has already been fired in Atlanta, and he went 5-12 this year. If this move does not work, might this be his last opportunity to be an NFL head coach?

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn better be right

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