According to a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday, the Washington Commanders are hiring veteran Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach. The surprising news comes after Quinn reportedly told the Cowboys on Jan. 26 he was not seeking head-coaching jobs; however, he was reported to have interviewed with the Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks over the past few weeks.
Quinn will fill the vacancy left by former Commanders coach Ron Rivera, who was fired Jan. 8. Rivera led the Commanders to a 26-40-1 record over four seasons.
This is Quinn’s second head-coaching gig; he previously served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-20, going 43-42 over six seasons and 3-2 in the playoffs, and included a loss in Super Bowl LI, which saw the Falcons fall to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The 53-year-old Quinn spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator of the Cowboys. Under Quinn, the Cowboys boasted one of the best defenses in the NFL. In his first year, he led Dallas from 28th in points allowed in 2020, to seventh in 2021. The Cowboys led the league in interceptions during Quinn’s first campaign as wel, and in the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons under Quinn, the Cowboys were fifth in points allowed.
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