The 2024 NFL season marks a new era in Washington Commanders football. It will be the first full season from out under the thumb of former owner Daniel Snyder.
It will also be the first year of the Dan Quinn-Jayden Daniels partnership. The franchise hopes the veteran head coach will work with the rookie quarterback to lead the Commanders back to postseason contention or, at the very least, respectability.
Change is in the wind. Today, the Commanders announced perhaps the biggest change of all— that isn’t related to the on-field product, anyway.
On Tuesday, the franchise unveiled the new name for its stadium, formerly known as FedEx Field. For the 2024 season and beyond, the Commanders play at Northwest Stadium.
Washington Commanders and Northwest Federal Credit Union are announcing an exclusive naming-rights agreement for the team’s stadium.
The team will usher in a new era at Northwest Stadium for its Sept. 15th home opener against the New York Giants. pic.twitter.com/LCJwKq4Iv5
It doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as FedEx Field, and isn’t geographically accurate, but it does feel significant. Despite the cool alliteration FedEx Field garnered a reputation for a rather subpar viewing experience for fans. It was only three years ago a video went viral of a pipe bursting and water dumping all over fans during the season opener.
Moving on from the sponsorship and renaming the stadium feels like another big step taken in separating the new Washington franchise from the Snyder operation.
The new deal will run for the next eight seasons. The Commanders are in the midst of working out a new stadium situation,
either renovating the current setup or moving to a different area, but the naming rights deal extends to whatever they decide. So, should Washington set up shop elsewhere, the players will be playing at Northwest Stadium regardless.
What happened to FedEx Field?
The news does beg the question of what exactly went down with the FedEx sponsorship. The answer is not particularly dramatic.
After Josh Harris’s group finalized its purchase of the Commanders from the Snyder family, FedEx exercised an option in its contract that allowed the company to opt out of the naming rights deal early if there was a change in ownership. The company informed Washington of the decision before the end of the 2023 season.
Washington has played at FedEx Field since 1999, and the company was reportedly paying $7.5 million annually for the naming rights. No longer.
The Seahawks have been in the thick of the NFL coaching carousel since the announcement that the organization had parted ways with longtime head coach Pete Carroll earlier this month.
Seattle is one of eight NFL teams that have had a head-coaching vacancy this offseason, with six of those teams now having hired their new leader. Only the Seahawks and the Washington Commanders have yet to select their next head coach.
The Seahawks have been in the thick of the NFL coaching carousel since the announcement that the organization had parted ways with longtime head coach Pete Carroll earlier this month.
Seattle is one of eight NFL teams that have had a head-coaching vacancy this offseason, with six of those teams now having hired their new leader. Only the Seahawks and the Washington Commanders have yet to select their next head coach.
Dan Quinn
The Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator was at the Seahawks’ facility in person for a second interview on Thursday and has been considered from the beginning as a top candidate to replace Carroll, ESPN reported citing sources. Quinn coached under Carroll twice with the Seahawks and has head coaching experience in his past with the Atlanta Falcons.
Quinn’s defense had a great regular season but got decimated by the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Quinn might be the most familiar with the organization among the current leading candidates, but many fans on social media haven’t exactly expressed optimism over Quinn taking over.
The Commanders are also expected to interview Quinn in person next week, so it remains to be seen whether either team will extend him an offer.
Quinn harkens back to the “Legion of Boom” days and the Seahawks’ best teams of the 2010s, but also has come up short in some critical games, including the infamous blown lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
Ejiro Evero
The Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator is reportedly scheduled to have an in-person interview on Saturday with the Seahawks.
Evero has been considered a rising star for several years in the NFL coaching ranks, working as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator in 2022 before taking the same role in Carolina last season.
Evero could be heavily pursued by the Panthers to remain as defensive coordinator after the team announced the hire of longtime Seahawks assistant coach Dave Canales as head coach.
The Los Angeles Rams also are likely to make a run at bringing Evero back following the departure of Raheem Morris to become the Atlanta Falcons’ new head coach, as Evero helped LA win a Super Bowl.
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