Commanders' Dan Quinn Pays Tribute to Laid-Off Washington Post Reporters

The head coach left empty seats at his press conference to honor the journalists who lost their jobs.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn paid tribute to the reporters from The Washington Post who were laid off, leaving three empty seats at his latest press conference to commemorate their absence. The Post is cutting its entire sports section, meaning no one will be covering the Commanders moving forward. Quinn expressed how "bummed" he was to hear about the layoffs, and other Washington D.C. sports teams have also shown respect for the displaced journalists.

Why it matters

The Washington Post has long been a respected source for sports coverage in the nation's capital, with many prominent journalists getting their start there before moving on to national platforms. The layoffs represent a significant loss for the local sports media landscape and will impact how teams like the Commanders are covered going forward.

The details

In addition to the sports section cuts, The Washington Post also made layoffs in other news areas including international reporting. Reporters were either reassigned or let go entirely. The Commanders are not the only D.C. team to pay tribute, as Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery also expressed his respect for a former Post reporter covering the team.

  • The layoffs at The Washington Post were announced on February 10, 2026.

The players

Dan Quinn

The head coach of the Washington Commanders football team since 2024.

The Washington Post

A major national newspaper that is cutting its entire sports section and laying off reporters.

Spencer Carbery

The head coach of the Washington Capitals hockey team.

Bailey Johnson

A former Washington Post reporter who covered the Washington Capitals.

Tony Kornheiser

A prominent sports journalist who got his start at The Washington Post.

Michael Wilbon

A prominent sports journalist who got his start at The Washington Post and co-hosts the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption.

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What they’re saying

“First a couple of empty seats over to my right. I was absolutely bummed to hear about The Washington Post sports section. Their presence is missed.”

— Dan Quinn, Head Coach, Washington Commanders (NBC Sports in Washington)

“I would be remiss not to say something about Bailey not being here today. Getting to know her over the last 2 1/2 years, yeah, I'm just thinking about her. And also know wherever her next stop is, whether it's in the DC area or somewhere else, know she'll do a fantastic job. She's an incredible person and really, really good at what she does.”

— Spencer Carbery, Head Coach, Washington Capitals (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The Washington Post has not announced any specific plans for the future of its sports coverage or the status of the laid-off reporters.

The takeaway

The layoffs at The Washington Post represent a significant loss for sports journalism in the nation's capital, as the newspaper has long been a respected source for coverage of local teams like the Commanders and Capitals. The tributes from coaches like Dan Quinn and Spencer Carbery show the impact these reporters had and the void their absence will leave.