Dan Quinn is the NFL's Coach of the Year and it's honestly not a close race right now
The Washington Commanders (6-2) are one win away from surpassing Vegas' preseason projected total of 6.5 wins and while Jayden Daniels is a huge reason why, Dan Quinn has been the one running things since he was hired back in February. Quinn, along with Adam Peters, completely tore down Ron Rivera's and Martin Mayhew's previous […]
The Washington Commanders (6-2) are one win away from surpassing Vegas' preseason projected total of 6.5 wins and while Jayden Daniels is a huge reason why, Dan Quinn has been the one running things since he was hired back in February.
Quinn, along with Adam Peters, completely tore down Ron Rivera's and Martin Mayhew's previous roster and rebuilt it in their own image. It was a hell of an effort that resulted in multiple upgrades across the board, but there were still plenty of holes at several key areas that left big question marks heading into 2024.
Hence Vegas' process with its projection. Questions at left tackle, cornerback, defensive end, and receiver (behind Terry McLaurin) placed the team in the "wait-and-see" category when it comes to results. And, most figured said results would come in the form of a competitive team, but an underwhelming final record.
Well, here we are. It's Week 9 and the Commanders are currently leading the NFC East and they hold the No. 2 seed in the NFC's playoff race. Daniels is easily the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year and the Commanders defense is performing at a level not many anticipated.
The team is disciplined, efficient, and they play as a unit. It all stems from the culture Quinn has created since Day 1 and the message he's conveyed to his players. Everyone has bought in and we are seeing the team not only grow up before our eyes, but win games at a high level.
"I wanted to acknowledge in that locker room is a group of really tough people that genuinely care about one another and play and coach for one another, and that's a hard thing to assemble," Quinn told reporters after the Week 8 win over the Chicago Bears. "It's not easy, and it takes work, and you got to go through tough nights like tonight, which at times was very frustrating. But to see this group stick together and know that like, man, we're never out of it, and that's a really big deal."
As a result, Dan Quinn has to be the frontrunner for Coach of the Year and it's honestly not even close. The Kansas City Chiefs are 7-0, but they have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. I am not taking anything away from Andy Reid, whatsoever, the man is a future Hall of Famer. But, you'd be hard pressed to find a coach that can't win games with Mahomes at QB.
Matt LaFleur is doing a helluva job in Green Bay, especially when considering Jordan Love's injuries. However, they are coming off a playoff run and aren't starting from ground level like Quinn and the Commanders. Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings are currently on a two-game skid, which isn't something Quinn and co. haven't come close to experiencing. Plus, the Vikings have one of the NFL's five best players in Justin Jefferson.
Dan Campbell has the Detroit Lions in the NFC driver's seat when it comes to Super Bowl contenders on that side of things, but like the Packers, Detroit was established coming into this season and that roster is loaded from top to bottom when it comes to talent and skill level.
Last, are the Steelers and Bills at 6-2. Mike Tomlin has two starting-caliber QBs in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and the Bills have been perennial playoff contenders for the last half-decade.
When looking around, it's easy to see why Quinn currently deserves COTY. He's managed, with all due respect, an average roster led by a rookie quarterback and a newly-assembled coaching staff to the point where the postseason looks more and more like a lock each week. It's not just that, either, the Commanders are at the top of totem pole when it comes to the NFL's best records. It's not a middling team scratching and clawing its way through the season.
And unless things just fall apart over the back half of the season, he should take home the hardware for the first time in his career.
