Here are some of the names that have been floated as candidates to replace Dan Quinn as Cowboys defensive coordinator.
DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys are left without a defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn accepted the head coaching job with the NFC East rival Washington Commanders on Thursday.
Quinn, 53, coached the Atlanta Falcons for more than five seasons and played defense for the Cowboys the past three seasons. He led the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance in 2016 but was fired after an 0-5 start in 2020.
Quinn is rumored to be a top candidate for the Seattle Seahawks' head coaching job, dating back to his time as coordinator and leading the “Legion of Boom” defense during the 2013-2014 Super Bowl championship season. There was a connection, and they also made it to the Super Bowl the following season. Instead, the NFC West team hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike McDonald to fill the void.
The Associated Press reported that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was also considered a possible candidate, but Quinn became Washington's choice after Quinn informed the team Tuesday that he would remain in Detroit.
With a vacancy on the Cowboys' coaching staff, all eyes are now on who will replace Quinn to lead the Cowboys' defense. Here are some of the names being talked about as potential replacements for Quinn.
Current Cowboys defensive staff
According to reports, Cowboys passing game coordinator Whitt Jr. will be the top choice to replace Quinn in terms of an “internal hire.” Mr. McCarthy is reported to have high regard for Whitt Jr., making him a likely candidate. The only thing is… so does Quinn. Whitt Jr. could also be hired as Quinn's defensive coordinator in Washington.
Two other options that McCarthy could promote from within the Cowboys' program would be secondary coach Al Harris or defensive line coach Aden Durde. Like Whit Jr., either of these coaches could be promoted to defensive coordinator for the Cowboys or become part of Quinn's staff.
Harris has been a defensive back for the Cowboys since 2020. Durd has more ties to Quinn, having coached together for the past six years in both Dallas and Atlanta.
Non-Cowboys Candidates
Vrabel was one of the hottest coaching candidates on the latest head coaching merry-go-round, and lo and behold, he's still on the market even after all head coaching vacancies have been filled. Vrabel was a Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and began his coaching career at his alma mater, Ohio State, before coming to the NFL with the Houston Texans. Vrabel became the defensive coordinator for the Texans and then the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he spent six seasons and led the team to three playoff appearances.
Vrabel was fired after the Titans finished last in the AFC South with a 6-11 record.
Prior to becoming head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, Staley served as the Rams' defensive coordinator on Sean McVay's staff. Staley's Rams defense ranked first in scoring and total yards allowed, which earned him the job as the Chargers' head coach.
However, Staley is reportedly interviewing for the Rams' vacant defensive coordinator position after Raheem Morris was hired as Atlanta's head coach. Given Staley's history with the Rams staff, it makes more sense that he lands there rather than North Texas.
Zimmer actually has ties to the Cowboys organization in the past, spending five years as a defensive assistant and seven more years as defensive coordinator in Dallas from 1994 to 2006. He was also the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 to 2021, so his ties to the Cowboys are loose. When McCarthy was head coach of the Green Bay Packers, he overcame many battles in the NFC North.
WFAA confirmed with Cowboys officials that Zimmer will meet for the defensive coordinator position.
Don't you think this would make an interesting headline? Dallas and Washington will essentially execute a coaching swap. Rivera spent his career as the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers before becoming head coach of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders.
Rivera interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching job in 2007, but at the time owner decided to hire Wade Phillips instead. He is currently reportedly interviewing for the defensive coordinator position on Coach McCarthy's staff.
Speaking of headlines, how about securing the coordinator position with the greatest coach of all time?! It seems pretty far-fetched that a coach with Belichick's pedigree would accept a position other than head coach. …wherever.
Belichick is 15 wins away from setting the NFL's all-time wins record, so it's safe to say he wants to chase that record instead of working as a defensive coordinator.
But this is Dallas, and Jerry Jones loves a good headline. And when asked about the prospect of hiring Belichick, in true Jerry style, he left his door wide open.
“I know him personally and I like him,” Jones told Yahoo Sports at the Senior Bowl. “I have no doubt that we can work together. None. None.”
If anything, Jones' comments have sparked speculation that McCarthy could be on the hot seat in the final year of his contract. Again, this option is a long shot, but crazier things are happening. As Cowboys fans know, Jerry is doing everything he can to create buzz, which should not be underestimated.
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