Washington D.C. sports community shows support in wake of dismantled Washington Post sports section
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The Washington Commanders left three seats open at Tuesday’s press conference as a way to pay homage to the Washington Post’s sports department, which was recently shut down.
Commanders leave 3 seats open for The Washington Post and Dan Quinn says what a loss it is to not have them covering the team pic.twitter.com/Jo8I3usiHz— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 10, 2026
Everyone in sports and sports media was shocked at the dismantling of the Washington Post’s sports department last week. Local teams in the area are coming out to show their support for those staff members who lost their jobs in this move.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn took some time out to show his appreciation for those who covered his team for the Post and mentioned how he was “absolutely bummed to hear about The Washington Post sports section.”
"Their presence is missed"
- DQ on the empty seats in the room for @PostSports
Thank you @barrysvrluga, @tashanreed, @Tom_Schad & so many others pic.twitter.com/dvnQvVMFmZ— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 10, 2026
Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni gave his own tribute to the Post during a video call with media members. Toboni talked about his own experience growing up in San Francisco and not being able to imagine access to the San Francisco Chronicle’s sports section suddenly being taken away.
Washington #Nationals president of baseball ops Paul Toboni opened a video call with media bemoaning loss of the Post sports department and ball writers Andrew Golden, Spencer Nusbaum, Chelsea Janes and Barry Svrluga, while noting the San Francisco Chronicle's role in his youth. pic.twitter.com/12Ldm1qpFT— Gabe Lacques (@GabeLacques) February 10, 2026
Last week, shortly after the news broke about the shutdown of the sports department, Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery recognized Bailey Johnson, who covered the team and confirmed that she was one of the journalists being laid off by the Post.
#ALLCAPS Coach Spencer Carbery started this morning’s press conference by acknowledging @BaileyAJohnson_, who said she is among the journalists caught up in WaPo’s layoffs yesterday. “I would be remiss not to say something about Bailey not being here today. Getting to know her…— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 5, 2026
“I would be remiss not to say something about Bailey not being here today, Carbery said. “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.”
For decades, The Washington Post's sports department had been heralded for its level of journalistic integrity and its closure has dealt a tough blow to sports media both locally and nationally.
