Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Quinn tells Daniels to take his chance on fourth-down plays
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels threw the ball away on fourth-and-2 against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
The play came from the 49ers' 13-yard line, with Washington trying to keep its drive alive.
A flag was called for an illegal shift by Washington, and San Francisco declined it, leaving the Commanders with a turnover on downs.
Coach Dan Quinn said he spoke with Daniels about the decision.
Quinn said Daniels should still try to complete a pass when a penalty is possible, because he cannot know whether officials will call it against the defense or his own team.
The Commanders lost 23-17 after trailing 23-3 at halftime, despite scoring 14 unanswered points in the second half.
The episode followed a previous game in which Daniels was tackled in overtime instead of throwing the ball away, allowing the clock to expire before Washington could try a field goal.
Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he told quarterback Jayden Daniels to take a chance on fourth-down plays.
Daniels threw the ball away on fourth-and-2 at the San Francisco 49ers’ 13-yard line, and Washington turned the ball over on downs.
The play came early in the second quarter of Washington’s 23-17 loss to San Francisco on Monday night.
Quinn said he knew it was fourth down, despite video that appeared to show him reacting with surprise.
The 49ers declined a penalty for an illegal shift, leaving the turnover on downs in place.
- Who
- Washington coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels.
- What
- Quinn said he discussed Daniels’ fourth-down throwaway with him and wanted him to take a shot at completing the pass.
- When
- Monday night, in a game reported on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- At the San Francisco 49ers’ 13-yard line.
- Why
- Quinn said Washington planned to go for fourth downs to be bold and believed it might need a high score to win.
Dan Quinn
CBS Sports and ProFootballTalk
Quinn's awareness of the down
Dan Quinn
Quinn said he definitely knew it was fourth down and that Washington had decided to go for it.
CBS Sports and ProFootballTalk
Both outlets said the video appeared to show Quinn surprised to learn it was fourth down; ProFootballTalk questioned his explanation.
What Quinn was reacting to
Dan Quinn
Quinn said he was responding to a question about whether Washington could kick a field goal after the illegal-shift penalty.
CBS Sports and ProFootballTalk
The video appeared to show Quinn reacting to the fact that it was fourth down, though CBS Sports noted headset conversations were not known.
Washington’s game against the New York Giants ended in a 27-27 tie after the team ran out the clock.
Daniels threw the ball away on fourth-and-2 at the 49ers’ 13-yard line, and San Francisco declined Washington’s illegal-shift penalty.
Washington lost 23-17 to San Francisco after rallying from a 20-3 halftime deficit.
Quinn said he knew it was fourth down and explained that he had been responding to a question about kicking a field goal.
ESPN reported that Quinn had spoken to Daniels about the throwaway and wanted him to take a chance on the play.
- Fourth-down situation
- Fourth-and-2
- Location of play
- San Francisco 49ers’ 13-yard line
- Penalty
- Illegal shift on Washington; San Francisco declined it
- Final score
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Washington Commanders 17
- Daniels' passing
- 29 of 40 for 300 yards and two touchdowns
4 sources
Dan Quinn says he talked to Jayden Daniels about ill-advised fourth-down throwaway vs. 49ers, wants QB to take his 'shot'
Quinn says he addressed fourth-down throwaway with QB Daniels
Dan Quinn denies confusion after viral fourth-down clip in Commanders loss to 49ers
Dan Quinn on viral clip: "I definitely knew it was fourth down"
What people are saying
Even when you know there's a penalty, you still take your shot, man, to go throw it, complete it,
No, I definitely knew it was fourth down,
We knew we had to go for some fourth downs to be bold in the game.
I didn't know. It could have been offside, it could have been on us,
Posts on X
"I definitely knew it was 4th down." Commanders HC Dan Quinn on the 4th down play that Jayden Daniels threw the ball away in the second quarter.
“Field goal. Oh, that was 4th down?” certainly looks like lip readers believe Dan Quinn was completely unaware that it was 4th down and wanted to kick a field goal 💀💀💀