It has been a season to forget for the Washington Commanders, and 2026 absolutely has to be better after a major regression from making the NFC Championship game.

The Commanders struggled with injuries, but there was so much more that exposed itself this year that the team needs to fix to get back to the playoffs next year, and hopefully the Super Bowl. As we make our own New Year’s resolutions for 2026, the Commanders have a list of their own.

Here’s what the Commanders need to do in 2026 to bounce back to their winning ways.

The Commanders need to find a new defensive coordinator

One of the first tasks this offseason for general manager Adam Peters will be finding a new defensive coordinator to help repair the defense and bring out the best in their players.

Head coach Dan Quinn needs to actually fire Joe Whitt Jr. as soon as the season ends and start interviewing top candidates. Whether it’s Al Harris in Chicago or a head coach who gets fired, Quinn needs to swing for the best guys available. Then, they can examine the roster and figure out what to do next as they attack free agency and the NFL Draft.

The Commanders need to spend more money this year

Yes, I know that’s the opposite for a lot of us, but the Commanders need to spend money this offseason, given the number of holes to fill and how many free agents they should replace. The Commanders will likely have top-five salary cap space available, and they need to swing at some bigger names.

Last offseason, Peters was way too conservative and went budget spending, and it came back to haunt them. No more old players on their retirement tour; they need ascending young players ready to win a Super Bowl.

This roster needs to get healthy and stay healthy

The season didn’t stand a chance with all of the games missed by Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and the other key starters. Daniels needs to work on running when he doesn’t need to, while continuing to build his frame up and get ready for the 2026 season.

You can only control injuries so much, but the way the team practices and prepares is a major factor that needs to be fixed as well. The number of injuries the team had was not a normal amount, and they need to take a closer look at how they operate to get it corrected.

Dan Quinn needs to get out of his comfort zone

Whether it’s finding a new defensive coordinator that he may not have coaching ties to or veteran players that he knows, Quinn needs to get out of his comfort zone and change his approach. This team was more of a buddy group than a team this season, and Quinn took too long to make changes that needed to happen.

It might not be easy, but Quinn can’t go into next year with the same approach and expect different results. 2026 will be a make-or-break year for Quinn, and he needs to act like it in his approach to everything he does.

Washington Commanders News

Commanders 3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Washington takes a blue-chip prospect on defense, and a new weapon for Jayden Daniels

The Commanders make the most of their two picks in the top-75 by selecting Caleb Downs to rebuild the defense, and Elijah Sarratt to be another weapon for Jayden Daniels.

Josh Taylor