Tag: Newmark

The Washington Commanders haven’t had to worry much about their staff getting alluring glances from elsewhere in recent years. After all, perennial underachievement doesn’t exactly warrant interest.

That is changing.

Washington has gone from a laughingstock to a respectable operation under the new regime. They secured 12 wins and sixth place in the NFC’s playoff seeding after a campaign not many thought possible so early into a drastic rebuild. There is hope for the future and this sleeping giant has awoken much quicker than anticipated.

There is an aura surrounding Washington right now that cannot be ignored. Dan Quinn’s done an exceptional job in Year 1 of his head coaching tenure. General manager Adam Peters’ professionalism and ambition were a breath of fresh air in the front office after the dysfunction under Dan Snyder. The results speak for themselves.

The atmosphere around the organization is night and day to anything fans have experienced for decades. Washington is a trendy team again. They are also going to be an attractive destination for pending free agents when the time comes.

It’s not all good news.

Commanders’ staff being coveted is the price of newfound success

Struggling teams around the league always look to contenders for possible solutions, especially when it comes to any new openings they have to fill. They believe using this hiring method could bring a Midas Touch to their organizations. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

The hiring cycle interest in assistant general manager Lance Newmark and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury confirmed the Commanders’ new reality.

Staff members — be it in the front office or the coaching staff — are going to be coveted by others. That’s a good spot to be in because it means the Commanders are doing well. Losing key figures behind the scenes is collateral damage every team in the higher echelons of the league has to cope with effectively.

Newmark recently interviewed for the New York Jets general manager vacancy. Speculation also remains about whether Ben Johnson could look to bring him on board wherever he decides to become head coach thanks to their previous working relationship on the Detroit Lions. If not this year, a top job won’t be far away for the respected front office figure.

As for Kingsbury? He’s scheduled to interview with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears for their head coaching vacancies in the coming days. Whether he wants to take the plunge again or will do enough for more serious consideration remains to be seen, but it shows that he’s got his foot back in the door after being fired by the Arizona Cardinals.

This is something the Commanders have to navigate. It’s the price of success in a copycat league. Forming the correct contingency plans and ensuring they have replacements lined up for any departure is the only way to keep the momentum going.

So long as the Commanders have Peters, Quinn, and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, they’ll be just fine. There will be comings and goings elsewhere, but this core trio represents the foundation for Washington to flourish in the coming years.

And nobody will be taking them away.

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