When Jayden Daniels took the league by storm in 2024, Washington Commanders fans couldn’t contain their enthusiasm. Before the regular season started, there was mild excitement around the team because Dan Quinn was the new head coach. People were hopeful but restrained because, let’s be real, this team hadn’t done much for a long time prior to 2024.
Even as the season wore on, it took some time before fans truly embraced what the Commanders were doing. They were always looking over their shoulder, waiting for something to happen that would derail the team. But that didn’t happen in 2024, and the Commanders made their first NFC Championship appearance in three decades.
Then 2025 happened, but it wasn’t a crushing blow to the fanbase. People understand injuries; when a team has multiple players with season-ending injuries, it’s disappointing, but it’s a different kind of disappointment because there’s a legitimate reason for the failure. Perhaps that is why this fanbase isn’t as negative as some might think. A recent CBS Sports article ranks the most optimistic fanbases in the NFL, and the Commanders landed smack in the middle.
15. Washington CommandersDespite last year's turbulence, Washington fans are apparently confident their team will rebound in 2026. It's safe to say their reason for optimism is based on Jayden Daniels' return from last year's injury and some of the offseason additions, which include first-round rookie Sonny Styles.
The Commanders actually have plenty of reasons to be optimistic in 2026, and while some remain cynical about their team, they are a minority in the overall fanbase. The return of Jayden Daniels is a huge factor in the optimism, plus the players Adam Peters brought in on the defensive side of the ball. And not just Sonny Styles, although he is going to be fun to watch this season, but Leo Chenal, K’Lavon Chaisson, Nick Cross, and Odafe Oweh are bringing excitement with them.
On top of those things, they just signed Stefon Diggs, making the offense more dynamic and explosive than it has been in a long time.
Fans have many reasons to be excited about the Commanders this fall, and that excitement will only increase when the Commanders show that they are still a factor in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: How optimistic are Commanders fans heading into 2026?