It is the season of celebration, and the holiday cheer has spread to the NFL as well. All around the league, gifts between players have been making the rounds as names like Brocky Purdy and Russell Wilson shower their teammates.
But recently, Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders went the extra mile as well, taking out time to congratulate his team, courtesy of a special Christmas Day gift for every one of them. What did the gift entail? Let’s find out.
Dan Quinn Spreading the Christmas Cheer
The season has been a remarkable one for the Commanders. After a year of turmoil alongside a new ownership group that included Magic Johnson, the team found a new identity under Quinn and franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels.
And Quinn was ready to showcase his gratitude to the team. As a result, each member of the squad got a personalized baseball bat in the colors of Washington (burgundy and gold). It even had their mantra, “Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime” printed on it, with each player receiving their own piece with their name on it.
Dan Quinn got every player and staffer personalized burgundy and gold bats for Christmas. Has their name and the Commanders’ logo on them. Pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/tbtNpsZ6ds
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 24, 2024
After three seasons as the defensive coordinator in Dallas, Quinn made his return to the head coaching ranks nearly a decade after first taking the Atlanta Falcons job. While his defensive instincts haven’t fully transformed the Commanders, the overall results are clear to see.
A four-win team last season, Washington looks like a completely different squad. Led by Daniels at the helm, they’re at 10 wins on the year and an epic collapse away from getting into the playoffs.
The 10-5 record that Washington currently holds is the most wins by a first-year head coach in the history of the franchise. Further, their unexpected and undeniable success has made Quinn the betting favorite to win Coach of the Year.
Despite the spectacular numbers, guiding a rookie quarterback-led team to the playoffs in his first season as the team’s head coach has been a remarkable victory in Quinn’s column. It remains to be seen what the ceiling for Washington is this season.
But with four game-winning drives on the year already, it is impossible to count them out against any team. While their 18th-ranked defense might not lead them to a Super Bowl appearance, Quinn has made it a possibility that the team could spoil any team’s season, even one with a higher overall seed.