Teams should record and save all headset communications

Published October 12, 2026 10:43 PM When a plane crashes, the “black box” preserves all evidence regarding the cockpit conversations. When an NFL team has an inexplicable failure of coaching, is there a way to go back and listen to how it all happened?While some teams may preserve that data, the Commanders do not.Coach Dan Quinn was asked that specific question on Monday, one day after a disastrous failure to manage the final seconds of overtime against the Giants.“We don’t do specifically that,” Quinn said. “We do a writeup and then go back and review conversations, situations, the film, and the R&D department goes along with that. As far as the communications go, I want to make sure that’s up for me, you know, at the top, this is what’s happening. This is what we need to get done. And we’ll continue to work really hard on that. We have definitely ways to simulate it. That’s one way that we have, and we’ll continue to do.”It would make sense to preserve the headset communications, if only for the benefit of ownership to get to the raw and undeniable facts at a time when folks may be looking for ways to cover their butts. Of course, if owner Josh Harris was on the sideline during games, he’d have first-hand evidence as to what transpired. Which is what Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon does, even though some feel compelled to criticize her for it.For the owners who aren’t on the sideline, preserving those communications should be a no-brainer. If they aren’t already doing it, adopting that system could be the equivalent of all teams incorporating victory formation after the disastrous Joe Pisarcik moment from 1978.