Dan Quinn took full accountability for quarterback Jayden Daniels' dislocating his elbow during the Washington Commanders' blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He got lost in the moment, and the head coach paid a heavy price.
Quinn cut a dejected figure when speaking to the media on Monday. The Commanders are going through extreme turmoil, with veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey also sustaining season-ending ailments on Sunday Night Football. Daniels' return timetable is less clear, but it would be surprising if he were to be risked again in 2025.
The knives have been out for Quinn. He's received a barrage of criticism for his lack of judgment. And one national insider believes this could even shorten his stay in Washington when push comes to shove.
NFL insider believes Jayden Daniels injury could shorten Dan Quinn's stint with Commanders
Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk compared this to Quinn's Super Bowl collapse as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. It's a defining moment that hasn't looked favorably on the respected coach. The insider thought that if things didn't go well in 2026, it could be his last.
"Down 38-7 with 7:29 to play, why in the hell was [Jayden] Daniels in the game? Why did [Dan] Quinn keep him in the game? When Quinn was asked that question last night, he avoided answering it directly. He knows. We all know. Quinn’s not the only one who has been guilty of it. He’s just the most recent one to get burned by it. For Quinn, the season-ending (most likely) injury to Daniels will become part of Quinn’s legacy with the franchise. It’s basically his Washington version of 28-3. Depending on where things go from here (and particularly in 2026), it could shorten his stay."
Mike Florio
That's a long way off, and it's nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction.
Things haven't gone well for the Commanders this season, which obviously raises pressure across the board. This is an ambitious project, and standards are slipping. Nobody is pressing the panic button on Washington's long-term plans just yet, and hopefully, this concern doesn't fracture the strong bond between Quinn and Daniels moving forward.
At the same time, there is a lot of hard work ahead. Last season's sensational surge to the NFC Championship game almost seems like a mirage now. Injuries haven't helped their cause, but running it back with an aging roster that only got older during the offseason hasn't paid off. Daniels' avoidable injury only added fuel to the fire.
Quinn isn't under any immediate danger, despite what Florio and others suggested. But fans should still expect a dark road ahead before there is light at the end of the tunnel.