The Washington Commanders wrapped up a frustrating and unexpected 2025 season with an end-of-year press conference Monday, as head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters addressed what went wrong after a 5-12 finish that followed last season’s surprising 12-5 run to the NFC Championship Game.
Both Quinn and Peters struck a sober tone from the outset, repeatedly calling the season a disappointment while stopping short of outlining any specific changes. “We’re not able to go there yet,” Quinn said when asked what changes might be coming. “Everything needs to be and is being thoroughly discussed.” He added bluntly, “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” emphasizing that the organization is still in the evaluation phase and not ready to make definitive decisions on staff or scheme.
Peters echoed that sentiment, saying, “This season was a disappointment and not up to our standards.” While health issues played a role, he made it clear injuries were not an excuse. “Health played a big part and wasn’t close to the only part,” Peters said. “I feel really good at some spots, but there’s certainly some spots where there could be improvement.”
Coaching staff questions, including the future of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and whether Quinn will call defensive plays next season, were largely deferred. Quinn said evaluations are ongoing and that “everything needs to be better.” When pressed on play-calling, he said he would be “heavily involved” with the defense in some capacity but declined to specify his role. Peters reiterated that coaching decisions ultimately rest with Quinn, calling the process collaborative and expressing full support from the front office.
Personnel decisions loomed large in the discussion, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Peters acknowledged that the team and wide receiver Terry McLaurin would have preferred to complete McLaurin’s contract extension earlier. “It didn’t happen that way. There’s reasons for that,” Peters said. “But ultimately, we’d like to get those things done before we did. There’s a lesson there.”
That lesson extended to the receiver room as a whole. Peters said injuries to McLaurin and Noah Brown lingered longer than expected, stressing the depth behind them and limiting options. “Anytime you lose your top two guys, it hurts your depth,” he said. The team explored several external options but declined to make moves due to cost considerations. “We did explore a lot of things. We didn’t pull the trigger because of cost or whatever it was,” Peters said, while acknowledging that the group needs to be better to support quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Protecting Daniels and reducing the burden on the young quarterback was another focal point. Peters said the long-term plan centers on roster balance rather than asking Daniels to do everything himself. “That’s continuing to put good players around him… and not put it all on his shoulders,” Peters said, adding that building a stronger defense is also part of that equation.
On the defensive front, Peters said adding another pass rusher is a clear priority. “Certainly another pass rusher would be something we’re looking for,” he said, noting the team could address it through the draft or free agency. “You’re always trying to get younger and faster.”
Peters also addressed the team’s approach to contracts, saying he has no aversion to long-term deals but warned against overcommitting prematurely. “In past places I’ve been, the biggest mistakes made is investing a lot of years into a player you don’t know,” he said.
One contract situation the team hopes to resolve quickly is left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Peters praised Tunsil’s leadership, work ethic, and on-field performance, calling him “one of the better left tackles if not the best.” He added, “We definitely want to get something done with him, and sooner rather than later.”
Looking ahead to the draft, Peters confirmed the Commanders would be open to trading the No. 7 overall pick to acquire additional draft capital. Washington currently holds just two picks in the first four rounds due in part to the Tunsil trade. “I would do that one all over again,” Peters said of the deal. “Obviously we have a top-10 pick, which we could look to move and get more picks if the opportunity arises.”
The press conference ended on a lighter note when Peters joked about the team’s Week 18 win, saying, “I told him to tank and he just said no,” drawing laughter as the organization now turns fully toward an offseason of reflection, evaluation, and reset.
