Report: Washington Commanders hire Dan Quinn, Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, as their new coach
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is expected to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders according to numerous media reports.
Quinn interviewed for five head coaching jobs following the conclusion of the Cowboys season. This will be Quinn’s second stint as head coach with his first coming with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-20) whom he led to a Super Bowl.
Quinn’s departure means the Cowboys will need a new defensive coordinator and will have to wait to see if any members of the team’s defensive staff follow Quinn to Washington D.C.
Quinn, 53, will jump to Washington from the NFC East rivals, where he served as the defensive coordinator since 2021. He was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-20 and tallied a 43-42 record in five-plus seasons.
He led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI following an 11-5 regular season in 2016. The Falcons took a 28-3 lead in the third quarter but couldn’t score again and lost to the New England Patriots 34-28 in overtime.
Quinn began his NFL coaching career in 2001 as a defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers and rose through the ranks in jobs with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2013-14.
Many had expected Quinn to replace Pete Carroll in Seattle, but the Seahawks hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, leaving Quinn for the Commanders.
He’ll be expected to work with new general manager Adam Peters to improve the Commanders defense, which finished last in the NFL under coordinator Jack Del Rio in overall defense (388.9 yards per game), points (30.5) and passing yards (262.2).
Quinn’s Dallas defense ranked in the top five in each category.
The reported finalists in Washington were Quinn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Ravens associate head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.
Staff writer Lawrence Dow contributed to this Field Level Media report.
This story was originally published February 1, 2024 at 10:45 AM.
