3 Sacks on Dak Prescott: Johnny Newton Says Nobody Can Mess With Him and the League Needs to Listen
Alright, 12s, even though he’s not rocking the green and blue, you gotta hear about the absolute fire brewing in the NFC East. Johnny Newton, the Commanders' defensive tackle, is feeling himself big time, and honestly? After what he did last Christmas, who can blame him? His head coach, Dan Quinn, already made it clear back in April, saying Newton is "about to absolutely take off" in his third season. And Newton? He's still riding that epic wave from the end of last year, literally declaring he feels like "nobody can mess with me." Yeah, you heard that right.
From Rookie Struggles to Ankle Anguish, He Grinded
Man, it wasn't always smooth sailing for the guy. Newton was a second-round pick back in the 2024 draft, and he even had to sit out some time before his rookie year because of foot surgery. He still managed to play 16 games and start 11 that season, grabbing two sacks, which isn't too shabby considering the setback. But then 2025 hit, and while he appeared in all 17 games, an ankle injury kept him from really going off. He didn't even snag a start in the first fifteen games. Talk about grinding through it, right? Most guys would probably get down on themselves, but Newton kept pushing.
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The Christmas Day Eruption That Changed Everything For Him
But then came Week 17 of the 2025 season against the Cowboys. That's when Newton finally moved into the first team, and BAM! He absolutely exploded, sacking Dak Prescott three times in that one game. THREE TIMES! You know that feeling, right? When everything just clicks and you know you're unstoppable? Newton's still got that Christmas energy. He told his team's website, "That's a big confidence boost, for sure. . . . I've had that feeling since Christmas. I’ve always been that way, though. I’ve always been confident in myself, but definitely after that game, I feel like nobody can mess with me." That's the kind of undeniable fire we love to see on the field, no matter whose jersey it is.
New DC, New Havoc?
And get this, the Commanders just brought in Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator. Jones used to work under Brian Flores with the Vikings, and Flores is known for running an aggressive, attacking front. You think that's gonna fit a guy who feels "nobody can mess with me" after a three-sack game? Uh, yeah! This could be the perfect storm for Newton to absolutely explode into a dominant force. His surge from that Week 17 game could totally launch him into a monster third season, especially with a scheme that lets him get after the quarterback.
So, even though he's not wearing the Hawk on his helmet, you gotta keep an eye on Johnny Newton. This dude's got the confidence, the talent, and now a defensive scheme that could let him go absolutely wild. The regular season isn't even here yet, but the vibes are telling us Newton is about to make some serious noise across the league. Get ready for some fireworks, NFL fans, because this dude is coming in hot!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.