Dan Quinn
Getty
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - AUGUST 23: Head coach Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders watches the game in the first quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Northwest Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Washington Commanders aren’t sneaking up on anyone this year. Coming off a 12-5 record and their first NFC Championship Game appearance in 32 years, Dan Quinn’s team enters 2025 with expectations that feel heavier than ever.
That’s the reality of setting a new standard. Quinn’s debut season was historic — the most wins by a first-year head coach in franchise history — but sustaining that success won’t be easy.
Former Washington defensive back Fred Smoot framed it bluntly.
“The deeper you go [into the playoffs] the better chance you have of somebody getting hurt and that’s why the preseason games were so important. It’s about the 53rd man on the roster. At one point, some second string, third string guys are going to start some games for us this year.”
That’s the truth of an NFL season. Depth, and how quickly it can be tested, may define whether Washington stays near the top of the NFC.
Quinn’s Approach to Commanders Veterans
Quinn’s reputation for detail extends to how he manages workloads across the year. Former tight end Logan Paulsen praised his philosophy on Command Center.
“Dan is so conscientious of how he loads training camp. How he manages guys in the week. You see older players come here and have better resurgences and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s such a priority.”
One of those veterans was tight end Zach Ertz. The 12-year pro became a reliable outlet for Jayden Daniels, finishing second on the team in receiving yards behind Terry McLaurin.
In the postseason, he delivered a career-high 11 catches for 104 yards in the NFC title game. For Quinn, keeping players like Ertz fresh isn’t just about protecting them — it’s about maximizing them when the stage is biggest.
Protecting Daniels at All Costs
Washington’s offense is still centered on its rookie-turned-superstar. Daniels proved he can win games in clutch moments, but the Commanders know he won’t have a chance without stability in front of him. Paulsen pointed to the offensive line as the pivot point for the entire season.
That’s why this offseason, Washington doubled down. The front office traded for All-Pro tackle Laremy Tunsil, drafted Josh Conerly Jr. out of Oregon, and reshuffled the unit so that Brandon Coleman could slide inside to left guard. Those moves were made to ensure Daniels gets every chance to thrive.
Santana Moss echoed that idea with a story every former player knows well:
“When a guy like Cosmi is out, we can use a guy like Wylie. That to me is hard to find in this league. I’ve been on a lot of teams where you lose a guy, you’re done. You’re not going to find a better replacement.”
That’s where Washington feels different now. The roster has options. The coaching staff has a plan for rotation. And the 2025 Commanders aren’t banking on luck — they’ve built in insurance.
Quinn, Smoot, Paulsen, and Moss all agree. It will be the second and third wave of contributors who decide how far Washington can push this season.
The Commanders are trying to prove that 2024 wasn’t an outlier, but the start of something real. And in a league where one injury can shift the entire season, their ability to prepare for the inevitable may be their biggest strength of all.