The Washington Commanders hired Dan Quinn during the 2024 offseason as part of an effort to bring about a new style of football. After 21 seasons of coaching in the NFL, including three as the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, Quinn had earned a reputation as a defensive guru and a powerful locker room presence.

 

With their new coach and new management, the Commanders selected their quarterback of the future with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft: LSU superstar and 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. While Daniels was an absolute phenomenon in college, many wondered if his trajectory would be similar to that of the previous Heisman winner and top pick, Bryce Young. Young struggled to adjust to the flow of the NFL, and pundits and fans were worried that Daniels would face similar issues.

 

However, the Commanders' front office set Daniels and Quinn up for success in the first year with talented free-agent acquisitions on both sides of the ball. Picking up veteran running back Austin Ekeler and talented tight end Zach Ertz, the Commanders hoped their combination of veteran presence and young talent would foster early success. On the other side of the ball, veteran additions Jeremy Chinn and Bobby Wagner were brought in to further invigorate the team.

 

With the team assembled, Dan Quinn was left to do the rest.

 

For the Commanders, success was evident—and it came early. Leading his team to a 12-5 record in the regular season and an NFC Championship berth were signs that Quinn knew how to get the absolute best out of his group. He embraced the things his players could do well and designed his game plan around their strengths. This democratic style of leadership helped him bring a team that hadn’t won in the playoffs in 20 years to within one game of the Super Bowl.

 

The Chicago Bears found themselves in a situation very similar to the Commanders. With the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, the Bears selected 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams out of USC. The Bears prioritized free-agent additions, signing WR Keenan Allen and RB D’Andre Swift to play alongside DJ Moore and rookie Rome Odunze. On the defensive side, they added safeties Jonathan Owens and Kevin Byard III to further strengthen an already stingy secondary.

 

Hired in the 2022 offseason, Matt Eberflus planned to limit mistakes and create a disciplined team under strong leadership. However, his 2022 and 2023 teams performed poorly, and 2024 was his last clear shot to prove his value to the team. The season started with a bang, as the Williams-led Bears exploded to a 4-2 start, entering the conversation for contender status. However, the wheels soon fell off as the team won just one more game, and the Bears fired Eberflus after an error-filled loss to the Lions in Week 13.

 

When Eberflus was hired in 2022, his message to the team was clear: the Bears would be a cohesive and disciplined team under his guidance. His tight grip over team decisions would minimize errors and ensure that his team played smart. However, from 2022 to 2024, despite consistently performing poorly and making mistakes in the clutch, Eberflus stuck to his methodology. He blamed shortcomings on player execution and never accepted accountability when the failures were a result of poor coaching or insufficient preparation. He never deviated from his style and never adapted when his team was losing, ultimately leading to his termination.

 

An examination of the Bears’ and Commanders’ 2024 seasons reveals just how important coaching style is to the success of a team. Given a rookie Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and a plethora of veteran talent, both teams were evenly set up for success.

 

The biggest differentiating factor for these teams was the coach. Through a democratic and player-centered style, Dan Quinn was able to adapt to changes throughout the season and maximize player and team potential. The Commanders went from a team in the NFL’s basement to a berth in the NFC Championship Game.

 

On the other side, Eberflus adopted an autocratic coaching style and was unable to change after his team started to flounder, leading to a disappointing finish to an initially exciting season. Success or failure—any result—ultimately falls on the coach. By viewing Quinn’s and Eberflus’ success (or lack thereof) in 2024, it is evident that being adaptable and player-focused is crucial in maximizing a team’s potential.