As the last two teams with head coaching vacancies continue their searches, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn appears to be in the running for both teams. After visiting the Seattle Seahawks at the end of last week, Quinn will kick this week off by flying to D.C. for a follow-up interview with the Commanders, according to Jordan Schultz.
The former Atlanta Falcons head coach just wrapped up his third season as the Cowboys defensive coordinator. He earned the AP’s Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2021 and coached the Cowboys defense into the top unit for takeaways last season. This year, his defense had the league’s leader in interceptions and all-time leader in pick-sixes in DaRon Bland.
Prior to joining the Cowboys, he spent five-plus seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Quinn went 43-42, leading Atlanta to a Super Bowl defeat in 2016. The Falcons relieved him of his duties after an 0-5 start to the 2020 season. He also famously coordinated the “Legion of Boom” defense in Seattle, helping lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory in 2013.
Each year it has seemed like Quinn would leave the Cowboys to once again dive into a head coaching job, but either due to lack of significant interest or Jerry Jones’ deal-making, he’s chosen to continue building under Mike McCarthy.
Asked about his interest in the head coach market last year, Quinn said that only an opportunity that “lights him up” will get him to walk away from Dallas.
“I’m having a blast here,” Quinn said, via Jon Machota. “If down the line there’s an opportunity that lights me up, we’ll discuss it then.”
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