Feb. 12, 2026, 3:01 a.m. ET
Did you see Mike Florio and Chris Simms criticizing Washington coach Dan Quinn’s coordinator hires?
It might have revealed what the NFL nation is really thinking. It was must-watch television on Pro Football Talk, and Simms in particular raised his voice, passionately calling out Dan Quinn in hiring defensive coordinator Daronte Jones and offensive coordinator David Blough for the Commanders.
Here’s some back-and-forth between Florio and Simms.
Florio: “A pair of first-time ever coordinators for Dan Quinn, who according to last year, Chris, is at least going to be on preliminary hot seat lists for 2026. It’s unavoidable; it’s part of the job, it’s how it goes.”
Simms: “When you add these two decisions right here, that firmly puts you on the hot seat, I think, with what you are doing here. You disgruntle your quarterback changing the offensive coordinator, who he loves and has a relationship with, is awesome and is one of the best offensive coordinators in the sport in Kliff Kingsbury? And you hire a guy that’s never even done anything close to that? Yeah, we’re watching. We’re watching, I mean that is one of the craziest moves of the offseason, so far. Crazy! Kliff Kingsbury, everything he’s done? His offense, it’s just getting better and better.”
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Simms: “Jayden Daniels, even without him, the offense was not the problem. The defense was the problem. The head coach coaches the defense… And he is going to bring in somebody else to run a scheme that’s different than what he used to do, to coach the defense! It makes no sense at all! None of it! “
Florio: “The fact they resorted to Blough, may be another one of these situations where coordinators accomplished and skilled with options looked at that situation and said, ‘I’m not getting everybody fired. Everybody’s job is going to be riding on mine.’ “
Simms: “David Blough was a practice squad quarterback two years ago. (Actually it was three). Now he is calling plays for the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels? Yeah, ass is on the hot seat with decisions like that. It better go good!”
Florio: “That is quite a leap for David Blough …”
Some of Simms’ reactions were over the top. Could they prove to be true? Sure. But Quinn knows he’s taking a risk. He strongly feels this is the right move. Simms sounded more like Kingsbury’s agent. While Kingsbury was one of the NFL’s best offensive coordinators in 2024, issues arose in 2025, several of which were due to injury.
There were 21 offensive coordinator openings this offseason, including Washington’s. No one hired Kingsbury in that role. The Rams did hire him, but for a role on staff, not as the offensive coordinator.
Time will tell.