The Washington Commanders are once again shaking up their coaching staff, proving that stability in the NFL is often short lived. Under head coach Dan Quinn, the franchise has decided to move on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. after a disappointing 2025 season.
According to multiple reports, the separation with Kingsbury was mutual and followed a meeting with Quinn to discuss the future direction of the offense.
The #Commanders and OC Kliff Kingsbury are parting ways, sources say, as the play-caller looks for a new opportunity after meeting with coach Dan Quinn.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2026
Kingsbury will be an OC again this cycle, but also should be considered as a HC candidate. pic.twitter.com/LxjSchO8wp
Kingsbury, who previously served as the Arizona Cardinals head coach from 2019 to 2022 with a 28-37-1 record, is now free to explore new opportunities. While his stint in Washington did not deliver the desired results, league insiders believe he will quickly land another offensive coordinator role and could even draw head coaching interest.
The defensive side of the ball did not escape scrutiny either. Joe Whitt Jr. is also out as defensive coordinator after a season in which Washington’s defense struggled badly.
And this — a change of D.C. in D.C.: Joe Whitt Jr. also is out as the Commanders defensive coordinator, per sources. pic.twitter.com/OnondgaCvO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2026
Whitt had already been stripped of his play calling duties during the season, with Quinn stepping in to take control. The move failed to spark a turnaround, as the Commanders finished near the bottom of the league defensively, ranking 27th in points allowed and dead last in yards allowed.
What makes this coaching overhaul more striking is the sharp contrast to recent success. Just one year earlier, Washington reached the NFC Championship Game in 2024. Fast forward to 2025, and a 5-12 record forced the organization to hit the reset button yet again.
As the Commanders head into another offseason of change, the big question remains whether new coordinators can restore consistency or if this cycle of rebuilding will continue.
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