Dan Quinn was a hot commodity on the heading coaching circuit. He went on several interviews but ultimately decided to come back to Dallas, much like offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Safety Jayron Kearse, who has gotten plenty of praises as the Cowboys' most improved player in 2021 and the free agent they need to keep this offseason, recently applauded the organization retaining Quinn.

“Getting Dan Quinn back was a huge win, and it was much-needed just to try your best to keep this group together," Kearse said on Tuesday. "Because the strides we made in Year 1, it can give us a lot of upside going into Year 2, with guys being together, guys having camaraderie with each other. That's the No. 1 win so far this offseason."

Kearse played 1,014 snaps last season. That nearly equaled the 1,081 he logged in his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. It led to him having a career year. Kearse led the team in tackles (101) and set career-highs in both interceptions (2) and passes defended (10). The latter number led all safeties in 2021, as well.

The former seventh-round pick talked about how his increased workload, thanks to Quinn, allowed him to showcase that he was more than just a depth signing.

"If you turn the tape on, with the opportunities I did have, I played good football," Kearse said. "But it was never a week-in, week-out thing where it was constantly Jayron Kearse on the field. It was just the fact that I was able to get that opportunity every week."

The Dallas Cowboys hired Quinn last January. His mission was to turn around a Cowboys' defense that was atrocious in 2020, to say the least, after finishing 31st against the run and 29th in points per game.

After going heavy on the defensive side of the ball in the NFL draft and signing several free agents, Quinn began his quest to make the Cowboys defense formidable. And it worked immediately. The end result was the Cowboys finishing as the No. 1 defense in terms of forcing turnovers (34) and stopping opposing offenses on third down.

The Cowboys will have some turnover on defense with quite a few free agents hitting the open market next month. However, the core of the Cowboys' defense will be back, and seeing how they took to Quinn's philosophy and made such improvements in 2021, another year under his guidance bodes well for another successful season in 2022.

The Pro Football Writers of America, as well as the Associated Press, rewarded Quinn for his efforts by recognizing him as the Assistant Coach of the Year a couple weeks ago. That's all fine and dandy. But after a first-round exit in the playoffs, Quinn is back in Dallas to finish what he started.

“I have unfinished business here,” Quinn said. “We have the right people in place to accomplish the things everyone in this building is working to accomplish. We’re doing that right now. We’re doing it today — grinding toward a goal.”

Free agency isn't where the Cowboys make a lot of noise when it comes to improving their roster. Instead, they use the draft to make major upgrades; and they need to address positions like linebacker, safety, defensive tackle, and defensive end in April.

If the Cowboys want to continue their ascension as one of the NFL's better defenses, they need to add some groceries in order for Quinn to prepare some tasty meals.

Feature image via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports