Teams around the league have already begun planning for the upcoming head coaching cycle. Given the success achieved by the Washington Commanders in Year 1 of this exciting new era, a few admiring glances will be cast on those working under Dan Quinn in 2025.
Quinn did a phenomenal job of molding an accomplished staff team filled with the right blend of youth and experience. There's a nice mix of old-school values and progressive thinking. The players have responded accordingly, accomplishing more than even the brightest optimist thought possible before the campaign.
That might see a couple - if not more - coaches gaining head coaching interest from elsewhere. The most obvious is offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury given he's held a top job before. Running backs coach Anthony Lynn is another. Some under-the-radar candidates will also end up on shortlists depending on how many openings become available.
Commanders must make contingency plans before 2025 head coaching cycle
Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network shone the spotlight on a largely forgotten man who's building back his reputation under Quinn's expert guidance. The senior insider named Brian Johnson as a name to watch when the head coaching cycle commences. He highlighted his promising reputation in league circles and the responsibilities given to him in Washington as reasons why interest could arrive.
"[Brian] Johnson got his start in coaching at his alma mater and became the youngest FBS offensive coordinator at age 24. He has mentored the likes of Dak Prescott, Kyle Trask and Jalen Hurts. His first NFL OC opportunity last year in Philadelphia went sideways for a variety of reasons; he still interviewed for two head-coaching jobs (Falcons, Titans) last January before heading to Washington. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has wrapped his arms around Johnson, who presents in the team meeting every week, helps out in all phases of the offense and game management, and is working in an offense under Kliff Kingsbury that's more in line with what Johnson has been accustomed to through his football life."
- Tom Pelissero, NFL Network
There were a few eyebrows raised when Johnson became Washington's assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator. This was largely down to how his time calling plays in Philadelphia went, but it's also worth remembering that his exceptional work developing quarterbacks fast-tracked him into the role.
Perhaps this cycle might come too soon for Johnson. There was interest last time around without anything concrete emerging. Learning from Quinn and playing a leading role in rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels' development is only going to help his cause. Even so, others seem way ahead in the queue right now.
Nothing could be completely dismissed at this juncture. If a team becomes particularly enamored with Johnson as a leader and talent developer, he's got a shot. But staying in Washington for another year or two to further hone his craft under one of the league's most revered coaches wouldn't be a bad thing, either.
Quinn has been around long enough to know what'll happen if the Commanders' outstanding progress continues. With more notoriety comes increased chances of coaches getting promotions elsewhere. That's the nature of the beast, so having the correct contingency plans in place is essential to keep momentum trending in a positive direction.
It's a wait-and-see scenario for any aspiring head coach. But don't be surprised if the Commanders get a few interview requests when the frenzy commences.
