Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr speak to the media before practice
Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr spoke with reporters before today’s practice. They are preparing for the Washington Commanders’ season finale, a road game against the Dallas Cowboys. Both coaches want to even the score after Dallas’s upset win in their first meeting, and also end the season on a high note before the playoffs begin.
Kliff Kingsbury said he’d like to become a head coach again at some point. He’s happy in Washington, and this season has rekindled his passion for coaching. He learned from Dan Quinn how to set the foundation of an organization as soon you arrive. He declined to answer if he would be taking any interviews during this head coach hiring cycle.
Kliff Kingsbury
LIVE: OC Kliff Kingsbury speaks to the media before practice https://t.co/b3SkJBDz0p
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 2, 2025
Being a head coach again:
Kliff Kingsbury’s first public comments suggesting he wants to be a head coach again. Will be a massive story early this offseason if he accepts interviews.
Great line of questioning by @Sam4TR. pic.twitter.com/Yzx9iGQJnL
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) January 2, 2025
Kingsbury said he’d like to be a HC again someday. But “I’m very happy here.” It has rekindled his passion for coaching.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2025
Kilff Kingsbury is asked if he wants to be a head coach: (Pause). “Yeah, at some point.”
Declined to comment about whether that means 2025. Said he’s pleased here.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 2, 2025
Lessons from Dan Quinn:
Kingsbury said one thing he has learned from Dan Quinn is how to set the foundation for your program right away.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2025
Olamide Zaccheaus:
Kliff Kingsbury on Olamide Zaccheaus: “I actually used to call him Oz for like the first two months of knowing him. … It was like the whitest mistake ever.” pic.twitter.com/muc5ekHFkN
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 2, 2025
Asked Kliff Kingsbury about Olamide Zaccheaus’ recent production. KK said he called him “Oz” the first two months only to learn from Dyami Brown that he prefers “O.Z.”
Kingsbury: “It’s like the whitest mistake ever.”
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 2, 2025
Offense better than expected:
Kingsbury on the offense’s success this season: I knew we were a lot better than people thought
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 2, 2025
Terry McLaurin
Voted into the Pro Bowl with Jayden Daniels:
For the first time in 33 years, Washington will be sending their QB/WR combo to the Pro Bowl.
Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin got voted in together.
Terry told me, “that’s history…it’s a testament to the team that we have built this year…hopefully we can keep that going.” pic.twitter.com/kn5mTaoT31
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 2, 2025
“They tried to say the fanbase was dead or something like that, but it’s alive and well”
Terry McLaurin (@TheTerry_25) on making the Pro Bowl, fan support and what it means to have Jayden Daniels selected as a rookie QB@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail#Commanders pic.twitter.com/GAefJNoEgw
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) January 2, 2025
Joe Whitt Jr knows his defense has to improve against the run, especially when they get to the playoffs next week. He said the defensive line and corners were up an down last week. Jonathan Allen’s return allowed them to do more with their personnel. Whitt Jr said Dan Quinn will make the calls on who’s playing in the season finale, but he wants to beat his former employer. They’re a division rival, and he wants that win going into the playoffs.
Joe Whitt Jr
LIVE: DC Joe Whitt Jr. speaks to the media before practice https://t.co/GyPYayNuKS
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 2, 2025
Jonathan Allen:
Joe Whitt addressing the media. With Jon Allen back in the lineup, the Commanders uses more three D-tackle lineups up front against the Falcons. Whitt thought the defensive tackles as a group played up and down
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 2, 2025
Defensive struggles:
Whitt on the defense struggling about it: not pleased about it. Need to get it fixed
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 2, 2025
Run defense:
Joe Whitt Jr. on the consistent run D issues: “I’m not happy about it… Playoff football you have to stop the run.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2025
Whitt said the corner play last week was up and down; said the same thing about the DL when it came to stopping the run.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2025
Building momentum for the postseason:
Whitt said it’s important to build momentum for the postseason by winning the last game. “You always want to go in with a win. Positive vibes come with winning,” he said.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2025
Beating the Dallas Cowboys:
Whitt: “We need to win this game. Period. It’s a divisional game, It’s the Dallas Cowboys. We keep the 6th seed. everything else doesn’t matter.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2025
Playing time in the final game:
Joe Whitt said the Commanders are going to do everything they can to win Sunday.
He said who plays and how much they play is up to Coach Dan Quinn. pic.twitter.com/9aoS7oqEx8
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 2, 2025
Frankie Luvu
Beat Dallas:
Sunday is the regular season finale for the Washington Commanders.
Great opportunity to get a win over the Cowboys especially since they dropped the first meeting.
Commanders LB Frankie Luvu said, “it’s very important to win this game, keep the momentum going.” pic.twitter.com/8a80sJmMAN
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 2, 2025
Jeremy Reaves
Playoffs:
We know this, next week there will be no locker clean out Monday in Ashburn.
Cowboys game on Sunday and then it’s the playoffs.
Commanders special teams ace Jeremy Reaves said, “it’s a different feeling. It’s been a long time, this is what you play football for.” pic.twitter.com/ozwXVVDOl9
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 2, 2025