Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler just completed his eighth NFL season. It was his first in Washington after spending seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ekeler’s season was full of ups and downs. He suffered two concussions, which led to a trip to injured reserve and forced him to miss five games. However, Ekeler proved a valuable weapon for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels when he was on the field.
Ekeler rushed for 367 yards and four touchdowns and caught 35 passes for 366 yards. He made multiple big plays throughout the season, including in the playoffs. He signed a two-year deal last March and is under contract for 2025.
After the Commanders cleaned out their lockers last week and headed out of town for the offseason, Ekeler joined “Grant and Danny” of 106.7 The Fan for one final time this season and reflected on such a phenomenal year.
“When you have a new core group of guys come in like we did and a new coaching staff, they bring in the new philosophy. So, something that’s gonna carry over will be the standard of the team,” Ekeler said via Lou DiPietro of Audacy.
“The expectation of this team now is at a new level internally because we now know our capabilities, so having a new core group with new philosophies and that are gonna be here for a second year, I think we’re really in a position to build off of what we’ve done this year. It won’t be the same team, but it will have the Dan Quinn flavor, Jayden’s coming back and we’ll have our offensive identity, and I think we really solidified that this year.”
Everything Ekeler said echoed what Quinn and others have said. While Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz were lauded for their leadership, Ekeler was in the same position. A highly productive veteran, respected on and off the field, he proved he still had plenty to give the Commanders.
Ekeler hopes that owner Josh Harris, general manager Adam Peters and Quinn do everything possible to keep the core of the 2024 team together this offseason.
“Look at the teams that have been there and done that, like the old Patriots or the Chiefs now — once you find a chemistry that works, I hope ownership is doing everything to really hold on to that, because it’s rare,” he said.
“You see the shuffle every year, but that’s what the NFL is: how can we put the best group of men together, and support staff together, to actually push this thing forward and sustain success. I hope they do everything they can to continue to keep us in a place where we have a winning culture. There’s no guarantees, but it’s a new opportunity, so I hope we bring in good guys who buy into the vision and the brotherhood.”
There’s that word again: brotherhood. Quinn’s message to his players after their NFC championship loss to the Eagles resonated. This was a special group that cared for one another, and he truly wanted them to enjoy more time together. The NFL dictates that no one roster will remain the same the following year.
Quinn and Peters hope the culture veterans like Wagner, Ertz and Ekeler helped establish in 2024 will be a part of the locker room for years to come, regardless of who’s on the roster.