The Washington Commanders will hire Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach.
Quinn, 53, has been the Cowboys' defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Dallas' defense took a huge leap forward in 2023, ranking fifth in the league. Prior to joining the Cowboys, Quinn spent more than five seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Quinn led Atlanta to a 43-42 record and an elimination from the Super Bowl in 2016. After starting the 2020 season 0-5, the Falcons relieved Quinn of his duties. Quinn is best known for coaching the “Legion of Boom” defense in Seattle and leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in 2013.
Quinn turned down a head coaching opportunity last offseason, opting to return to the Cowboys this season. He will become the 31st head coach in Commanders/Redskins history, replacing Ron Rivera, who was fired by the organization at the end of the season. With Quinn's appointment, all eight head coaching vacancies have been filled.
Washington appears to be focusing on Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who he plans to interview this week following Detroit's 34-31 NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday. . Johnson informed Washington that the Lions would be staying on their way to Detroit.
Coaches move forward with Dan Quinn as head coach
They have now shifted their focus to Quinn, who will work with newly hired general manager Adam Peters to rebuild their leadership. The coaches are coming off a 4-13 season and hold the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.Washington expected to select quarterback of the future, USC or not caleb williamsLSU's jayden daniels or in North Carolina drake may.
The Cowboys will have to find a replacement for Quinn, who was highly regarded within the locker room.
'Really, it's like my OG,' Cowboys outside linebacker said. Micah Parsons I said last month. “He means a lot to me, and it's not just about football. Q — We're talking today because he did things like this in college. [Nick] Saban — He said, “Yeah,” and I said, “You’re a really great leader.” I think he does a great job of finding ways to make people love the game and how to progress through the game.
“You don't necessarily have to forcefully say, 'I'm the coach.' It's more of a friendship. We experience things we don't like, things we like. He's always there when I need him and we're not afraid to have difficult conversations, whether it's father and son or players and coaches. Hmm. We’ll have them no matter what.”
