Several teams have expressed interest in hiring Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys and former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, to fill their head coaching positions. The Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders are the only two teams with open spots.
Quinn is a contender for both roles. He conducted two interviews, one with the Seahawks last week and the other with the Commanders on Tuesday. On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN spoke with Pat McAfee about the open coaching positions.
During the program, Schefter stated, “People have said here that they think [Detroit Lions offensive coordinator] Ben Johnson is going to Washington and Dan Quinn is going to Seattle.” “I’ll wager that at least one of those is incorrect, if not both of them.”
Schefter also mentioned that they are “quite impressed with [Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator] Mike McDonald, [Lions defensive coordinator] Aaron Glenn, and [Ravens defensive line coach] Anthony Weaver, as well,” when discussing the Commanders’ role. Additionally, I believe those guys will have a good chance of landing the position.
Quinn has coached in Seattle before, but he has no coaching experience in Washington. Four of his twenty years as an NFL coach were spent in two different stints with the Seahawks. The first one dates back to his tenure as Jim Mora’s defensive line coach and associate head coach from 2009 to 2010. The second was while working under Pete Carroll as the defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2014. Leading the league in points allowed per game, the Seahawks’ defense led by Quinn helped them win the Super Bowl in 2013.
Over the last three seasons, the 53-year-old has been in charge of the Cowboys defense, which has ranked among the top seven defensive units each year. Aden Durde, the defensive line coach for Dallas, has been asked by several teams to become their defensive coordinator. Durde, who spent Quinn’s last three seasons in Atlanta alongside him, has the option to leave and follow Quinn, should he land one of the two open positions.
Should they both depart, a former division opponent might be able to take over as Quinn’s defensive coordinator.
As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Sunday, “I am informed that the Cowboys have some interest in potentially looking into [Ron] Rivera as their defensive coordinator if Dan Quinn leaves.”
Rivera, 62, was head coach of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders before leaving the position in 2010. He worked as the defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers from 2008 to 2010 and the Chicago Bears from 2004 to 2006. He was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2005. With the Panthers, he also took home two AP Coach of the Year titles (2013) and (2015).
