Commanders' firing of Kliff Kingsbury called worst offseason move

The Washington Commanders are looking a little different in 2026. After a 2025 season that fell way short of expectations, head coach Dan Quinn felt like he had to shake things up.

>Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury were both let go. It's not surprising to see staff changes after a disappointing season, but not everyone feels the Kingsbury move was smart.

>ESPN's Seth Walder recently gave out grades for each team's offseason and also identified the best and worst move each team made. For the Commanders, Walder pointed to Kingsbury's firing as the biggest mistake.

>"Washington opened its offseason by firing both Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The former dismissal was a curious choice," Walder explained. "Although the Commanders massively disappointed by going 5-12 in 2025, the defense was the biggest culprit, ranking 30th in EPA per play."

>As Walder mentioned, the defense was a much bigger problem than the offense. Still, that's not to say the offense wasn't also disappointing. Kingsbury's unit finished seventh in yards and fifth in points in 2024, but finished 22nd in those same categories in 2025.

>"Of course, quarterback Jayden Daniels' injuries didn't help -- nor did his late-down efficiency crashing back to Earth after a banner 2024 -- but the fact that the Commanders were middle of the pack in offensive EPA per play without Daniels for half the season (and were actually more efficient without him!) is a testament to the offensive coaching," Walder said. "If anyone should have been on the hot seat after 2025, I think it should have been head coach Dan Quinn, not Kingsbury."

>Well, it's funny that Walder mentioned Quinn being on the hot seat, because most people think he definitely is entering this season.

>Still, it is worth mentioning Walder's point that the Commanders' offensive EPA per play was actually better without Daniels last year. That's not an indictment on Daniels; it just proves he wasn't close to 100% and that Kingsbury actually did a decent job with the unit.

>It also makes sense that Quinn would want to make some changes, though. The team replaced Kingsbury with David Blough, who's highly regarded as a young offensive mind. Blough is also a former quarterback, so it seems like the hope is he can get Daniels back to his 2024 form.

>We'll see if this move works out, but if it doesn't, Quinn likely won't survive for another season.

>This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' firing of Kliff Kingsbury called worst offseason move