Washington Commanders timeline on the way to the NFC championship game

The Washington Commanders are in the NFC championship game after going 12-5 in the regular season and winning two playoff games.

It’s the furthest the team has advanced in more than three decades, and it comes after going 4-13 in 2023. This turnaround is the result of a complete organizational overhaul that began with the firing of Ron Rivera and hiring of new general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn.

Signing veterans such as Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz and drafting Jayden Daniels set the stage for one of the most surprising seasons in franchise history.

Here's how it all happened.

A 38-10 home loss to Dallas on coach Ron Rivera's 62nd birthday clinched the second pick in the draft and opened the door to get the organization's quarterback of the future.

Rivera was fired as expected after four seasons as head of football operations, a stint that included one playoff appearance when Washington won the NFC East with a 7-9 record in 2020.

Controlling owner Josh Harris, whose group bought the team from Dan Snyder and family in 2023 for a North American professional sports record $6.05 billion, said: "Clearly, we weren’t good enough this year. We didn’t get it done on the field, and so we’ve decided to go into a new direction.”

Longtime NBA executive Bob Myers and former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman were contracted to assist Harris and co-owners Magic Johnson, Mitch Rales and David Blitzer in the GM and coach searches. Harris predicted a “thorough but rapid” process.

It did not take long for ownership to find its new head football executive, reaching an agreement with Peters to become general manager. The Commanders announced the hire a few days later.

Peters was one of two finalists along with Chicago’s Ian Cunningham. The 44-year-old joined Washington after spending the previous three seasons with San Francisco as an assistant to John Lynch.

Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, considered one of the top candidates to coach the Commanders, informed them and other teams he was staying with the Lions.

Quinn interviewed for the job the same day at a hotel in the ritzy Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, with defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn of the Lions and Mike Macdonald of the Baltimore Ravens also in the mix. The next day, the Seattle Seahawks hired Macdonald to succeed Pete Carroll as coach.

The Commanders turned quickly to Quinn, reaching a deal to hire the former Atlanta Falcons coach who ran the Dallas Cowboys defense from 2021-23. He signed his contract a couple of days later.

Harris said Quinn "rightfully earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s top defensive minds, building tough, explosive and dynamic teams that compete hard ... but most importantly, he is an incredible leader who brings out the best in his players, coaches and staff.”

Peters and Quinn made the first assistant coaching additions, agreeing to hire Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator and Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator. Before the Commanders hired Quinn, Kingsbury planned to join Antonio Pierce's staff with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he could not reach a deal and told them he decided to pursue other options.

The Commanders agreed to sign Ertz, a Super Bowl-winning tight end with Philadelphia who was a free agent after being released by Arizona the previous November. The signing reunited Ertz with Kingsbury, who coached him with the Cardinals.

Before the new league year opened, they also had agreements to sign running back Austin Ekeler and quarterback Marcus Mariota. The deal with Mariota was an early sign the team was zeroing in on Daniels, figuring Chicago would take Caleb Williams with the first pick.

Peters made a big splash on the opening day of free agency, signing six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner to a one-year contract worth up to $8.5 million with $6 million guaranteed. He also traded QB Sam Howell to Seattle after the 2022 fifth-round pick started all 17 games of the 2023 season.

The Commanders drafted Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU, choosing him over North Carolina's Drake Maye, who went third to New England. Peters said Daniels was the choice for a while: unanimous within the front office to the point the Commanders were ready to run the draft card up when they were on the clock.

“Selecting a winner like Jayden Daniels will energize the players and our fan base!” co-owner Magic Johnson posted on social media.

Later in the draft, they selected national championship-winning Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil in the second round and TCU offensive tackle Brandon Coleman in the third, filling a couple of big needs.

After opening training camp in late July not wanting to anoint Daniels prematurely, Quinn announced that he was the starter following a couple of successful preseason games and joint practices. Daniels was 12 of 15 for 123 yards at the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.

Daniels made his NFL debut, running for two touchdowns in a season-opening 37-20 loss at Tampa Bay. Quinn and the coaching staff talked a lot in the aftermath of that game about Daniels “remaining a passer” and not taking off and running as much as he did against the Buccaneers.

Days after Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt said the Commanders had a “nice college offense," Daniels lit up Cincinnati's defense in his first prime-time game as a professional. Daniels set a rookie record by completing 91.3% of his passes and outdueling Joe Burrow in a 38-33 win that made the Commanders 2-1.

Beating Arizona 42-14 the following week got Washington off to its first 3-1 start since 2011.

Seven days after leaving a 40-7 rout of Carolina with a rib injury that limited his practice snaps, the Commanders beat Williams and the Bears on Daniels' Hail Mary touchdown throw to Noah Brown.

They went on the road Nov. 3 and defeated the New York Giants to improve to 7-2, the organization's best record through nine games since 1996, and Peters acquired four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans just before the trade deadline.

After a three-game losing streak threatened to derail Washington's path to the playoffs, Daniels threw for three TDs and ran for another in a 42-19 blowout of Tennessee that sent the Commanders into their late-season bye week on a high note.

In a game flexed to Sunday night and with fellow top-10-drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. making his second NFL start, Daniels connected with Ertz for the winning touchdown in overtime to beat Atlanta and send the Commanders to the playoffs.

Zane Gonzalez banked the game-winning field goal off the right upright and through, and the Commanders upset the Buccaneers 23-20 in the wild-card round. It was Washington's first playoff win in 19 years, setting up a trip to the top-seeded Detroit Lions.

Top wide receiver Terry McLaurin turned a short pass from Daniels into a 58-yard TD, the defense forced five turnovers and the Commanders ran the Lions out of their own building with a 45-31 victory. Washington reached the NFC title game for the first time in 33 years, going back to the 1991 season — the team's third and most recent Super Bowl championship.

This story has been corrected to fix that Josh Harris’ group bought the team from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, not 2022.

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Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, announcing that the 76ers will partner with Comcast, their current landlord, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal with the city to build the arena downtown,. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) stiff arms Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) on a 58-yard touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) reacts to his interception against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) celebrates his five-yard touchdown reception against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) reacts to a reception against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury celebrate after an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Mike Mulholland)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates with Bobby Wagner (54) after an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovars cast their votes Sunday in a parliamentary election considered a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti as talks on normalizing ties with rival Serbia remain stalled and foreign funding for one of Europe's poorest countries in question.

Kurti’s left-wing Vetevendosje!, or Self-Determination Movement Party, is seen as the front-runner but is not expected to win the necessary majority to govern alone, leaving open the possibility the other two contenders join ranks if he fails to form a Cabinet.

The other challengers are the Democratic Party of Kosovo, or PDK, whose main leaders are detained at an international criminal tribunal at The Hague accused of war crimes, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, or LDK, the oldest party in the country that lost much of its support after the death in 2006 of its leader, Ibrahim Rugova.

The parties made big-ticket pledges to increase public salaries and pensions, improve education and health services, and fight poverty. However, they did not explain where the money would come from, nor how they would attract more foreign investment.

Kurti has been at odds with Western powers after his Cabinet took several steps that raised tensions with Serbia and ethnic Serbs, including the ban on the use of the Serbian currency and dinar transfers from Serbia to Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority that depends on Belgrade’s social services and payments. The U.S., the European Union and the NATO-led stabilization force KFOR have urged the government in Pristina to refrain from unilateral actions, fearing the revival of inter-ethnic conflict.

This is the first time since independence in 2008 that Kosovo’s parliament has completed a full four-year mandate. It is the ninth parliamentary vote in Kosovo since the end of the 1998-1999 war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists that pushed Serbian forces out following a 78-day NATO air campaign. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

The vote will determine who will lead the Kosovo in negotiations with Serbia, which stalled again last year.

The EU has suspended funding for some projects and set conditions for their gradual resumption, linked to Kosovo taking steps to de-escalate tensions in the north, where most of the Serb minority lives.

Kosovo is also suffering after Washington imposed a 90-day freeze on funding for different projects through the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has been key in promoting the country’s growth.

Some 2 million eligible voters will elect 120 lawmakers from 1,280 candidates from 27 political groupings. One independent candidate is also running. The Kosovar parliament has 20 seats reserved for minorities regardless of election results, 10 of which are for the Serb minority.

“I encourage all the citizens of Kosovo to use this opportunity to decide on the next four years,” Kurti said after casting his ballot.

There have been sporadic violent incidents. Prosecutors said they detained five people for trying to influence voters.

Kosovars abroad started voting on Saturday at 43 diplomatic missions. There are some 20,000 voters from the diaspora of nearly 100,000 casting ballots at the missions, and the rest by post.

Although crucial for the region's stability, negotiations with Serbia have not figured high on any party’s agenda.

”What can we do? We were born here. Our graves are here. It will be better, I hope. We have to come out and vote. That is our duty,” Mileva Kovacevic, a Serb resident in northern Mitrovica, said.

Kosovo, with a population of 1.6 million, is one of the poorest countries in Europe with an annual gross domestic product of less than 6,000 euros per person.

KFOR has increased its presence in Kosovo after last year’s tensions with Serbia as well as for the election.

A team of 100 observers from the EU, 18 from the Council of Europe and about 1,600 others from international or local organizations will monitor the vote.

——

Associated Press writer Vojislav Stjepanovic contributed to this report.

Albin Kurti, President of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, leaves a voting station as Kosovo holds a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

Albin Kurti, President of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, makes statements outside a voting station as Kosovo holds a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

Lumir Abdixhiku, Leader of Democratic League of Kosovo party, casts his ballot during parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

Albin Kurti, President of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, prepares to cast his ballot as Kosovo holds a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

Albin Kurti, President of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, arrives to vote as Kosovo holds a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

Albin Kurti, President of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, casts his ballot as Kosovo holds a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

A man casts his ballot for a parliamentary election at a polling station in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

European Union election observers watch a voter at a polling station during a parliamentary election in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

A voter waits for a ballot during a parliamentary election at a polling station in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

People wait in front of a polling station for a parliamentary election in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

A man prepares his ballot for a parliamentary election at a polling station in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

People wait in line during a parliamentary election at a polling station in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

An electoral committee member prepares a voting station for a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

A woman is checked by a member of an electoral committee during a parliamentary election in Pristina, Kosovo, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)