BREAKING: I can confirm the Washington Commanders have parted ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury after one season. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is also out. The shake-up lands after a flat 2025 campaign and signals a full reset on both sides of the ball. This is a bold pivot, and it puts Washington’s quarterback plan back under the spotlight.
Why Washington moved now
The offense never found its rhythm. Kingsbury arrived with a quarterback-first approach, heavy on space and tempo. The vision did not match the roster. Protection was shaky. The run game lacked balance. Explosive plays were rare, and red zone trips too often ended in field goals.
Kingsbury is known for Air Raid roots, which lean on quick reads and wide splits. You need timing, speed, and a clean pocket. Washington had flashes, but not a weekly identity. Week to week, the plan felt new, not stable. That is a problem for a young quarterback and a staff that needs trust.
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The front office could not ignore it. A year is short, but they saw the offense step sideways. The defense had its own issues, which made the decision simple. Clear the decks, reset the language, and hire to fit the locker room.
This is a full staff reset, not a tweak. Washington is choosing a new voice for its offense and its defense, right now.
What this says about the offense
The biggest gap was cohesion. The line and pass game did not marry the run game. Third downs were long. Two-minute drives felt rushed, not sharp. The quarterback took too many hits. Turnovers stacked up in bad spots.
This is more than play calls. It is about teaching, timing, and confidence. Young passers need repeatable answers and clean progressions. The route spacing and protection rules did not always match. That costs you in the details. It also drains belief in the huddle.
Kingsbury’s track record is building passing games that score in bunches. In Washington, the pieces never clicked. That does not close the book on his approach. It does highlight the roster’s needs, starting with the offensive line and a dependable run plan that travels in bad weather and tough stadiums.
The NFC East backdrop
This move lands in a division that never sits still. The NFC East is a weekly arms race. Coaches know it. Owners feel it. Fans demand it. When your offense stalls in this neighborhood, the calendar speeds up. Washington is not alone in reassessing coordinators, but the Commanders just made the loudest call. It resets the conversation about how they will chase Dallas and Philadelphia, and how they will separate from New York.
What the Commanders should target next
Washington must hire for fit and durability, not flash. This job is about building a quarterback on a weekly plan, then protecting him with structure. The next coordinator should check at least one of these boxes, and ideally two.
- A West Coast teacher who lives on rhythm, quick game, and clear reads
- A spread-to-pro translator who can keep tempo, but build under center and play action
- A run-game architect who can fix protections and set up explosives off the ground game
- A veteran stabilizer with play calling scars and red zone answers
The pairing with an elite offensive line coach is just as vital. Washington needs a staff that speaks the same language from Monday to Sunday. The run fits, the pass protections, and the route depths must tie together. That is how you build trust with a young quarterback and cut down on hits.
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Whoever calls plays should meet daily with the quarterback and line coach. One room, one plan, one voice.
What this means for Kingsbury
Kingsbury exits after one year, and he remains a respected quarterback mind. He will have options. Some teams will see him as a passing game coordinator or quarterbacks coach. College programs may call too. His value is in design and teaching the position. The right fit and a stable line could put him back in the mix quickly.
What’s next in Washington
The timeline is tight. The offseason board is already up. Hiring the next offensive coordinator has to align with key roster choices. Washington must decide on quarterback development, wide receiver usage, and the shape of the line. The coordinator hire will guide free agency and the draft. It will also set the culture for the spring.
This is a clean break, and it is the right time to make it. The Commanders need a plan that travels in December, not just in September. Get the quarterback protected. Build a run game that holds up. Teach a simple, tough system that grows with the roster. Today’s move makes that possible. Now they have to nail the next one.
