The most talked about moment from the NFC championship game was when Eagles receiver A.J. Brown and Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore got into a shoving contest. Brown pulled Lattimore’s helmet off, by the facemask, yet it was Lattimore who drew a flag for unnecessary roughness. But the NFL came down on Brown hitting him with a heavy fine $11,255 fine while Lattimore walked away without any further punishment. However, another Commanders player was not so lucky.

Jayden Daniels’ Commanders ended their season on a heartbreaking note in the championship game. After overcoming one of the favorites in the Lions in the divisional round, they were humbled by the Eagles 55-23 at Lincoln Field. The manner of that defeat suggests there will be some work to do in the offseason if they want to come back here next year, but for now, they are dealing with a few blows including the departure of a key asset.

Following their NFC championship game, the NFL has hit the Washington Commanders‘ corner Benjamin St-Juste with a heavy fine for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct. St-Juste was fined $16,883 for a hip-drop tackle that brought down Will Shipley after a 57-yard gain in the fourth quarter. Notably, like Brown, St-Juste was also not flagged on the field. 

The Commanders #25 is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He was signed in 2021 on a four-year deal for $5,100,752 and with Washington not exercising the last-year option, he’s looking for a new team. 

Meanwhile, the game also saw the Eagles’ Jalen Carter receive the heaviest fine of the round for an open-handed blow to the head that sent Commanders center Tyler Biadasz flying to the ground in the fourth quarter. Carter was slapped with a $17,445 fine for unnecessary roughness (striking/kicking/kneeing).

As for the Commanders, this was the second game in a row where their player got away with a penalty on the field only to be reprimanded later. In their divisional round win over the Lions, Frankie Luvu delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on Lions quarterback Jared Goff after he threw an interception. However, no flag was raised and the Commanders returned for a touchdown. Luvu then hip-drop tackled Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs. This also wasn’t flagged, but retrospective NFL punishment followed.’

Luvu was fined a combined $33,766 for both the fouls.

But the biggest blow to the Commanders didn’t come in the form of these fines. It has to do with Dan Quinn losing an important coaching staff member.

Dan Quinn pays the price for an impressive season

Following an impressive season that ended in an NFC Championship game appearance, it seemed inevitable that the Commanders might lose some key personnel. 

It was feared that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury may try his luck for a head coaching gig, but he has since reiterated his commitment to Washington after pulling out of the running for the New Orleans Saints HC vacancy. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. also had some interest from other teams but looks likely to stay put. However, their assistant special teams coach John Glenn is headed to Las Vegas.

Raiders coach Pete Carroll has moved for Glenn, who was his linebackers coach for six years with the Seattle Seahawks. Glenn will take up the role of the linebackers coach for the Raiders per NFL Network.

Carroll, Glenn, and Dan Quinn himself worked together for the Seattle Seahawks. The 2024 season with the Commanders was Glenn’s 13th year in the NFL as a coach. 

The Commanders are busy connecting important pieces for the upcoming season. This season was a shock for the entire football world as people didn’t expect Daniels and Quinn to achieve what they did with this squad. Now, expectations will be high. Let’s see if they can keep progressing in the right direction.