Tress Way was in disbelief as he walked through the Washington Commanders' lobby with his family to re-sign with the team.
Way, the longest tenured player on the roster, was welcomed by a throng of coaches and staff members, all of whom filled the room with cheers upon his arrival. It was a surreal feeling for the two-time Pro Bowler, and he had to let general manager Adam Peters know just how unique of an experience it was for him.
"I didn't even know teams did things like this," Way said. "...It's such a fun and exciting time to be a part of this franchise."
Way wasn't the only player who expressed that sentiment. The Commanders had more than three dozen players from their NFC Championship-contending roster set to hit the open market. Fifteen of them chose to stay after signing one-year deals in 2024, and all of them had similar thoughts to Way. They believe the franchise is heading in a good direction, and they want to be part of it.
"This situation is by far the best situation I wanted to be in," said veteran tight end Zach Ertz.
It's a dramatic shift from last offseason, when Peters and head coach Dan Quinn were selling free agents on concepts of their vision for a new-look Commanders team rather than proven results. Peters and Quinn's reputations as team builders helped convince players, but it still required a level of faith.
The two dozen players who signed with Washington last year and bought Peters and Quinn's message were rewarded with not just a 12-5 record on the field but also a dramatically upgraded work environment. The encouraging messaging around the facility and bag drills before practice, among other improvements, worked, and players were happier for it. They bought in and played harder for it, resulting in the team getting their first playoff win in two decades.
The changes, from a renewed emphasis on care for the players' families and consistent refurbishments to player facilities, led to the Commanders getting one of the biggest improvements in the NFLPA's annual report cards. The Commanders' overall review praised the team for taking a proactive approach to changing the culture and putting in the investments to make that a reality.
For players like Ertz, who has been in the NFL for 12 years and been part of multiple regimes, the energy that Quinn, Peters and their staff brought is different from what he's experienced at other teams. Ertz got a similar welcome to Way when he signed his one-year deal to remain with Washington, as members of the coaching staff were lined up to congratulate him.
The culture was so good that Ertz knew during the season that he wanted to come back and was willing to make it work to "be part of it again."
"It's just different," Ertz said. "It really feels like a family. That cliche gets thrown around so much in our profession, but I would say this place really does feel like a family because people really do care about other people's success."
Players like Ertz, Way, linebacker Bobby Wagner and quarterback Marcus Mariota all had multiple options for where they could go next in their careers. Wagner and Mariota both proved they could still be valuable members of a roster in different ways; Wagner had another 100-tackle season and became one of the team's key leaders, while Mariota provided mentorship for quarterback Jayden Daniels and played well in relief for the rookie.
Mariota was willing to hear teams out about opportunities, but any potential deal would have to "knock my socks off," he said, because of what he had in Washington, which offered the chance to be around a coaching staff he liked as well as one of the most exciting young players in the league. He had built a good rapport with Daniels and the staff, and he's been around the NFL long enough to know that it's not a guarantee he could replicate that with another team.
"At the end of the day, the grass isn't always greener," Mariota said. "...You understand that when you have a good thing, and you have a good culture, and you have a great room, that's not everywhere."
It was more than just opportunity that brought Wagner back to the Commanders, too. As someone who has now started for multiple organizations, Wagner has already proven that he can play well in any system. Although his Hall of Fame resume gets more solid every year he gets to triple digits in stops, there's not much more he can do to convince people that he's one of the best defenders in league history.
But Wagner didn't even let the situation get to the point where he would have to consider other teams. He views Washington as "the place" and wanted to remain where he felt he was accepted and appreciated.
Quinn brought up Wagner at the scouting combine as a "glue guy" for the Commanders last year because of what he provided to the players on and off the field. Comments like that stick out to Wagner and speak to his and Quinn's bond.
"No matter where you're at in your career, whether you're a rookie or whether you're a veteran, having somebody that believes in you, that cares about you, that wants to see you succeed is always going to help in your growth, no matter what point you are [at] in your career."
The Commanders were once again active in free agency this offseason, signing a list of 24 players that includes nine new faces, along with trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, all excited to join the team's new culture. The situation is a bit different from last year, though, because rather than selling hope, Quinn and Peters have tangible proof that their system works.
And the word is out; Washington is one of the best places to be in the NFL right now, and players are eager to help write the next chapter in the team's history.
"I think it's become pretty unanimous around the league that they are just running this place really well," said offensive tackle Foster Sarell. "The players love being here, and coaches love working here. I think that is super appealing, because that matters a lot."
