It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
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Most of the time, it’s clear who the “face of the franchise” is for NFL teams. Most often it’s the starting quarterback, though that can get confusing when a player like Kirk Cousins moves from the Vikings to the Falcons or Aaron Rodgers moves from Green Bay to New York.
Other times, an owner can be the face of the franchise; after all, it’s hard for any Dallas quarterback to steal the limelight from a camera-hog like Jerry Jones.
In the absence of a strong quarterback or outspoken owner, the face of the franchise may default to the head coach. I think of guys like Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh or Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, who may be more familiar to the fans of other teams than any of their star players.
Commanders
But we are Washington fans, and it occurs to me that the team has been in a bit of an identity crisis for a long time. The name has changed (twice!); there has been a parade of starting quarterbacks since 2018, and the team’s punter is its longest-tenured player.
At this point, I wonder if the Commanders have a clear identity; I wonder if we agree on which Commander is the “face of the franchise”?
I doubt whether there is universal agreement on the question.
Anyway, let’s work with what we’ve got. I’ll nominate a few candidates, and then we’ll see what you think.
Josh Harris
Let’s start at the top. Harris is certainly a high-profile face with Washington fans, and he’s got a profile in Philly and New Jersey due to his ownership of their basketball and hockey teams, but I doubt he’s got the kind of high profile that goes along with an owner like Jerry Jones or Arthur Blank. Harris may be the white knight who saved Washington fans, but I question whether non-Washington fans are very aware of him. Still, when you put together a partnership that pays $6B for a sports team, people hear your name and pay attention.
Magic Johnson
Talk about an owner with celebrity status! I’m not sure that Magic Johnson has been as much of a spokesman for the franchise as most fans expected he would, though I get the sense he helps as a ‘closer’ when needed. Magic’s personal profile is huge, but, to date, his ownership role with the Commanders has been fairly low-key.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Jayden Daniels
I can’t help comparing 2024 to 2012. A dozen years ago, the hype around Washington was ALL for RG3. There are many differences between then and now, including the fact that the franchise used only one first-round draft pick to get Daniels, and not the three (plus) used to acquire Griffin.
But the big difference is that everything is new with the franchise right now: new owner, new GM, new head coach, new coordinators…new roster. There are so many shiny new objects in the Commanders franchise that Daniels has the feeling of being ‘just one more’.
I’ve had this feeling for a while, but couldn’t put it into words. Then, several weeks ago, I heard Bram Weinstein on John Keim’s podcast, and he said that it felt like all of the focus this season was on Adam Peters, and that didn’t really leave room in the spotlight for Jayden Daniels. Weinstein suggested that this reality might improve Daniels’ chances for success if he doesn’t enter with the same sort of franchise savior expectations that arrived with RG3.
Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images
Adam Peters
Speaking of Adam Peters, the team’s new GM has certainly taken a strong hand in molding the Commanders into a very different team than the one we had last year. Josh Harris may have started the house cleaning by firing Ron Rivera on January 8th, but Peters has used Harris’ decision as the first small step in a huge process. Peters led an extensive search for a head coach, and landed his man in Dan Quinn. The subsequent coaching staff hires bring a fresh approach to Washington. Peters brought a different philosophy to the draft, rounding out an offseason roster remaking that included signing more than 20 veteran free agents. In May, Peters re-worked the personnel department in the front office. The changes have been so vast that Jahan Dotson said it felt like he’d been traded to another team.
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
Once again, I wonder if Peters has the profile outside of Washington and San Francisco to rise to ‘face of the franchise’ status, but, at this point in time, he may be the most instrumental person in the organization with respect to where the Commanders are today, and where they will go over the next 5 years.
Dan Quinn
Quinn is certainly very recognizable among NFL fans, and I think he has a personal ‘brand’ as a defensive coordinator that is very strong, and one as a head coach that is tarnished by reference to “28-3”.
For most NFL fans, it may be too soon for Quinn’s ‘chrome’ chin adornment and backwards cap visage to be associated with the burgundy & gold. After 3 successful seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator, it may take some time for people to adjust to DQ on the sidelines in place of Ron Rivera’s Easter Island statue-like presence.
Terry McLaurin
Of course, Commanders fans know and love Terry McLaurin, but he has a number of things going against him for ‘face of the franchise’ consideration. First of all, he was a 3rd round draft pick coming out of Ohio State, and at the time, wasn’t even considered to be the best receiver on the Buckeyes team, much less an elite NFL prospect. Secondly, some of Terry’s greatest assets are his professionalism, hard work, thoughtfulness and leadership; that’s why he has been a team captain for multiple seasons, but those aren’t strong factors in establishing a national identity.
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
Thirdly, in today’s world of fantasy-football driven popularity, statistical production is often the measure by which ‘average’ NFL fans value players. Terry has produced well when all things are considered; he has put up nearly 5,300 yards in 5 seasons while catching balls from a merry-go-round of quarterbacks in some lackluster offensive schemes.
Fans of other NFL teams, however, scoff at the idea that McLaurin is elite because they focus on box scores and likely have never seen more of Terry McLaurin than the occasional play on NFL Red Zone. Of course, that could change in 2024 with Terry playing in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and being on the receiving end of Jayden Daniels’ talented arm. McLaurin, after all, went to the Pro Bowl at the end of the 2022 season, and he has certainly won the hearts and minds of Washington fans, but does he have the national profile to qualify as the guy who represents Washington football to the world?
Jonathan Allen
If Terry McLaurin is known for his hard work, character and dedication, Jon Allen may be known best for his professional no-nonsense approach to doing the hard work of battling in the trenches of the NFL. It is possible for an interior defensive lineman to rise to national prominence — just ask Aaron Donald — but to many NFL fans, the work of linemen on both sides of the ball is nearly invisible — partly because it’s so hard to watch and evaluate, and partly because it doesn’t count in fantasy football…except for sacks.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Jon Allen and his fellow interior defensive tackle Daron Payne did, indeed, lead the Washington defense in 2022 with 18 combined sacks, and Allen is a locker room leader as well, but 2023 was not the same kind of magical season for Payne & Allen. With back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances (2021 & 2022), it appeared as if Allen’s national profile was on the rise, but maybe 2023 took a little of the luster off of his star.
Newcomers – Luvu & Wagner
If Washington’s defense turns things completely around, it will likely be due to a totally different level of play from the linebacker position, where free agents Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner will almost certainly have a huge impact. Wagner is so strongly associated with the Seahawks that it may not be possible for NFL fans to think of him as a ‘real’ Washington Commander, but Frankie Luvu — despite playing at a high level — didn’t get a lot of national attention playing for the Panthers. He has the opportunity to carve out a national reputation with his ‘no brakes’ style of play here in Washington.
Tress Way
Tress Way has been with the team since 2014, which makes him the longest-tenured player on the roster. Way has been to a Pro-Bowl in both a Redskins helmet and a Commanders helmet, and he is often referred to by Washington fans as the “MVP”. Way is outgoing, funny and charismatic, and he is one of the better and most consistent players at his position in the NFL.
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
While Tress Way has a special place in the hearts of many Washington fans for his rock solid consistency during the oh-so-difficult decade that we have suffered through since the acrimonious departure of the family Shanahan, he probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves beyond the borders of Redskins-WFT-Commanders nation. However Tress Way is seen by NFL fans in general, I suspect he will be long-remembered by Washington fans as a true bright spot in a very dark time in franchise history.