The NFC East has not had a repeating division champion for over 20 years. The last time was in 2004 where the Philadelphia Eagles won it four times in a row. The New York Giants have a losing record, the best players on the Dallas Cowboys are injured and the Philadelphia Eagles had a rough start to their season. The only other team in this division who are prospering are the one and only Washington Commanders.
In the off season, head coach Ron Rivera was fired and replaced by Dan Quinn. Quinn has bounced around the league and has won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks as defensive coordinator. The head coach position was not the only thing that changed in Washington. The old owner, Daniel Snyder, put the Commanders up for sale after he was fined 60 million dollars for sexual harassment. The Commanders are now managed by a group headed by Josh Harris. The group also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils, leaving many fans in good spirits.
In the 2024 NFL draft, Washington was set to make the second overall pick. Many said that the Commanders needed a new quarterback after old QB Sam Howell threw a record breaking 21 interceptions and was the most sacked quarterback in the 2023 season. The question of which quarterback to trade for left many uneasy. The decision was between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, but at the end of the day the choice was clear who the franchise guy would be.
The Washington Commanders drafted rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Out of high school Daniels was the number one recruit in California and committed to play college football at LSU. Daniels was described as “a quarterback prospect with A+ arm talent and rushing ability.” He was an essential part of the LSU offensive as a play maker and leader. At LSU, Daniels won the Heisman trophy, the most prestigious honor a college athlete can get. Quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and Joe Burrow have also won this award and have been standout stars in the NFL.
With the addition of Jayden Daniels along with other stars, the Washington Commanders have exceeded many expectations. The Commanders now sit at 7-3, second best in the NFC East division. They have beaten stacked teams like the Bengals and the Browns, and kept the games close when it came to the Ravens and Steelers. The defense has improved immensely and the offense has found its footing.
Katie Mortimer, senior, has been a Commanders fan her whole life. She has been going to games with her dad since she was four. The Commanders have not won the NFC East since 2015, just under ten years. This year, Katie feels it’s time. “It’s unreal. They haven’t been good for pretty much my whole life.” Mortimer said. This is how many teens feel in the DMV. Many can’t remember a time when the Commanders had a good season or a winning record.
The young quarterback and the new coaching staff have gotten many people excited about the season. The culture has changed significantly in the past year; stadium attendance has gone up and ticket sales have risen as well. Commanders fans are actually excited to see their team play, something that was lacking in the previous seasons.
Tico Barclay has been a Commanders fan for 30 years. “It feels great to finally have a winning team,” Barclay said. Even though Barclay has been a fan for 30 years, the last time the Commanders won the Super Bowl was in 1992. “I think the new coaching staff is making a big difference in Washington,” Barclay said. “We have the talent, so it’s great to see it reach its full potential.”
