Quinn’s las HC job was with the Atlanta Falcons
Took Falcons to the Super Bowl, losing to Patriots
Quinn was seen as preferred replacement for Dallas HC Mike McCarthy
The Washington Commanders have found their new chief, appointing Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach. This news broke recently via NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Quinn succeeds Ron Rivera, who was dismissed by the Commanders’ new owner, Josh Harris, following the conclusion of the season. This change came shortly after Adam Peters was brought on as the general manager on January 12. These appointments are the first significant decisions made by Harris in the football operations since acquiring the team in July.
Defensive-Minded Dan Quinn is Well-Manicured, Well-Traveled Throughout the NFL
At 53, Quinn has spent the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, where the team excelled defensively, ranking fifth in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed. Under his guidance, the Cowboys led the NFL with 93 forced turnovers.
Quinn’s coaching history includes a tenure as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020. During this period, he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl following the 2016 season, where they were defeated by the New England Patriots in a dramatic overtime loss, despite having a 28-3 lead.
Before joining the Falcons, Atlanta had only won 10 games over two seasons. In Quinn’s first season, the team achieved an 8-8 record, and in his first three seasons, they recorded a combined 29-19 win-loss record. However, in his last two-plus seasons, the team’s performance declined, resulting in a 14-23 record. Quinn’s overall record with the Falcons was 43-42, with a 3-2 record in the postseason.
Previously, Quinn served as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks for two seasons, during which the team’s defense ranked first in both points and yards allowed.
The Commanders, under Quinn’s leadership, face significant challenges. The team ended the last season with a 4-13 record, hasn’t had a winning season since 2016, and hasn’t secured a playoff victory since the 2005 season.
However, the Commanders hold promising prospects, including the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, which could be used to select a future quarterback. Additionally, they have five picks in the top 100 and about $70 million in available salary cap space, with the potential to increase this by at least $15 million through player releases.
