The 2025 season has arrived, and the Washington Commanders enter with sky-high expectations after last year’s run to the NFC Championship. With head coach Dan Quinn entering his second season and quarterback Jayden Daniels continuing his rise, Washington is aiming to prove it belongs in the Super Bowl conversation.
Naturally, that brings pressure, but Quinn isn’t interested in reliving the past; he’s focused on building something bigger. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, he summed it up bluntly: “I don’t want to replicate it. I want to build off it.”
The Commanders now find themselves as the hunted, rather than the hunters. For the first time since Washington’s 1991 Super Bowl run, the Commanders eclipsed 12+ wins, reaching a conference championship, and won a playoff game for the first time since 2005. Though Quinn insists his team will always carry that underdog mentality, he’s not allowing external expectations or doubts to creep into the locker room.
Daniels echoed that same mindset when asked if he feels added pressure following last year’s success. His answer was as calm as it was confident: “Nah, me personally, no. Not at all.”
With their quarterback and head coach aligned, the Commanders are sending a clear message: they’re not burdened by expectations, they’re fueled by them.
Washington has reloaded its roster and, on paper, looks stronger than last season. But the road won’t be easy. The regular-season grind features marquee matchups, including two showdowns with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Progress this year doesn’t necessarily mean winning it all, but the Commanders need to show they’re capable of sustaining success if they want to stay in the NFL’s elite tier long-term.
Everything is in place for Washington to take that next step. Now it’s about execution. The first test comes Sunday, when the Commanders open the season at home against the New York Giants.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders’ Dan Quinn not looking to replicate last season
