When the Washington Commanders decided to move on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, it caught many off guard considering how well the offense was run just the year prior, Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed why the Commanders decided to move on from Kingsbury, giving insight on the abrupt change what the long term vision for the team is. Why did the Commanders fire Kliff Kingsbury?
Here is Dan Quinn’s full response on why Washington decided to part ways with Kingsbury.
Why Did the Commanders Fire Kliff Kingsbury
“Yeah, those are tough, man, and what happens at the start where things went well. Sometimes you have to adjust and you have to change even when it’s hard, and that’s what we had to do on both sides of the ball. And going into it having a vision for how we want to play in 25 and beyond, that’s what drove the decisions. Both Kliff and Joe are excellent coaches. And so we’ve added David Blough who was on the staff here, and we added Devonte Jones who’s been in Minnesota the last few years. Both these guys, Rich, are excellent coaches, man. I can’t wait to get started with them.”
Delegating Play Calling
After explaining the changes to the coordinator positions, Dan Quinn was asked about another major change to the offense, that being his decision to step away from calling defensive plays. Quinn is known to be a head coach with a defensive background, so it was surprising to many to see him step away from that.
“I love, one, I know I can help with the leadership of everybody. And so I like being in other meetings and being around the players in different spots. I felt for me personally when I was just doing the play calling, I felt more segmented from everybody else. And although that model works great for some people, for me best, I love when I’m able to help lead the entire group and provide the support that both the coordinators need. I know that’s how I do it best.”
Quinn’s Draft Philosophy
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Commanders now head into the NFL Draft with the No 7 overall pick. With holding such a premium pick in the draft, the conversation organically transitioned into Quinn and his draft philosophy including how Quinn plans on navigating such a high first-round pick.
“It is, this is not the, you know, you don’t want to pick this high where you’re at when you’re here at that time. Okay. You know, there’s going to be some really, really good players, Rich, that can help change, you know, and change your team, change how you play. And so Adam and his crew, man, they’re on it. They’ve got a vision. They know what to do. I like seeing Adam on game day, which is draft weekend, you know, to see those decisions. And you know, like as a coach during the game, that’s go for it, don’t punt, kick, all of those to go. And during draft weekend, you get to see that same space that he’s in. It’s kind of this great balance, you know, that we have together. I certainly enjoy it.”
From Conception to Execution
At the end of the day, Quinn did not sound defensive or uncertain. He sounded like a coach who knows exactly how he wants to structure things and who he wants around him. Now it becomes about execution. If the changes pay off, this offseason will look like a turning point. If not, the scrutiny will only get louder.
Main Image: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images