Cowboys: Dan Quinn named one of the NFL's best defensive coordinators by PFF
After the disaster that was the 2020 season for the Dallas Cowboys with a 6-10 record and a defense that ranked 23rd, it was time for some changes. The Cowboys hired Dan Quinn to be its new defensive coordinator, and it's been nothing but a wonderful marriage ever since. Pro Football Focus agrees with that […]
After the disaster that was the 2020 season for the Dallas Cowboys with a 6-10 record and a defense that ranked 23rd, it was time for some changes.
The Cowboys hired Dan Quinn to be its new defensive coordinator, and it's been nothing but a wonderful marriage ever since.
Pro Football Focus agrees with that statement as they named Quinn one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, ranking him No.4 on the list.
It's hard to believe Dan Quinn is still a defensive coordinator and not a head coach. But since he is still manning Dallas' defense, he has to be in the top five of this list.
Quinn’s Cowboys led the NFL in total pressures last season with 337. They were also tied for fifth in interceptions with 16. On top of that, their overall defensive grade placed in the top 10, and their expected points allowed per play mark (-0.100) was third best. Quinn’s groups continue to put up great numbers across the board.-Trevor Sikkema, PFF
Quinn has guided the Cowboys to finishing fifth and seventh in scoring defense over the last two seasons, third in sacks in 2022, and they've led the NFL in turnovers for two consecutive years which has helped Dallas rank first and second in turnover differential since he arrived.
All-Pro linebacker/edge rusher Micah Parsons is Quinn’s weapon of mass destruction and he's found a plethora of ways to use him which has created quite a special bond between the two.
After the Cowboys were beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Quinn gave Parsons some advice on how to be more effective.
“He was talking to me about plays I can make if I just use my speed, just knowing that’s my superpower,” Parsons said, via The Athletic. “We kind of had that father-son talk. He challenged me, and I told him, ‘If you challenge me, I’ll never let you down.’ Stuff like that, I credit to Q, because he’s a person that means a lot to me and I just hate to let him down. When I’m out there, I try to give everything I got for him.”
Parsons is one of the best defensive players in the NFL regardless of position, so the fact that he feels the way he does about Quinn solidifies his impact on the Cowboys.
Feature image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
