Much has been discussed about the future of Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. After leading the team to its first NFC Championship appearance in decades, the Commanders fell flat in 2025, and many believe that if the Commanders don’t perform well in 2026, Quinn will be looking for a new job.
During a recent interview on the Rich Eisen Show, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and current NFL broadcaster Mike Tomlin did not rule out a return to coaching. You see, Tomlin was never fired; he simply stepped down. As a result, the Steelers own the rights to his contract, which runs through 2027 and includes a no-trade clause.
However, a recent Bleacher Report article named five teams that might lure him back to the coaching scene and waive
his no-trade clause. One of the teams named was the Commanders. The article reads, in part:
Because of the Commanders' deep playoff run in the 2024 campaign, Quinn likely bought himself extra time, but it's concerning that he parted ways with his offensive coordinator after one year. In doing so, he raises questions about the construction of his coaching staff.
Quinn's job security is also tied to Daniels' development.
In 2025, Daniels missed 10 games due to injuries, which stunted his second-year growth, and only completed 60.6 percent of his passes. Still, after he won 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, he goes into his third campaign garnering high expectations. If Quinn's offensive assistants aren't able to get the best out of him, the front office could consider more coaching changes.
Quinn parted ways with Kliff Kingsbury for a number of reasons, and you have to believe that one of them is that he already knew he wanted David Blough to be his next coordinator. If that’s true, the Commanders’ offensive success in 2026 will play a huge role in whether Quinn keeps his job.
Jayden Daniels' injury status and durability matter less, but his on-field success is vital to Quinn’s survival in Washington.
Even if the Commanders and Quinn part ways after the 2026 season, there’s zero guarantee that Tomlin will be the guy who replaces him. Several things have to happen, starting with him wanting to return to coaching in 2027 after taking off just one year. Then there’s the no-trade clause. If he doesn’t return to Pittsburgh, whichever team wants to hire him will have to provide solid reasons for waiving that clause. Last, what will that team have to give to the Steelers to get them to let go of Tomlin?
A lot of moving parts are involved. Until we see how this season goes, there’s really not much we can do except speculate. It is worth noting that Quinn and Tomlin are close; they first met in 1994, when Quinn was a rookie coach at William & Mary and Tomlin was a senior defensive back.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Could the Washington Commanders be in mix for Mike Tomlin if he returns?
