Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is expected to be one of the hottest candidates in what's become a wild NFL head coach "free agency" this offseason. 

Multiple teams looking for the right man to lead their franchise have requested interviews with Quinn, including the L.A. Chargers, Washington Commanders, and Tennessee Titans.

Following the news about Pete Carroll leaving the Seattle Seahawks, many immediately tied Quinn into the head coach opening given Quinn's history with the franchise. It's the third year that Quinn is considered a top head coach candidate and 2024 might be the year he ends up leaving the Cowboys for another run at head coaching. 

Who is Dan Quinn?

A true football guy, Quinn has a large curriculum since starting his coaching career in William & Mary in 1994 as defensive line coach. Quinn specialized in the trenches through several collegiate and NFL opportunities, including brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. 

Quinn also coached the Seattle Seahawks defensive line in 2009-2010 before leaving for a defensive coordinator job with the Florida Gators. 

It was Quinn's second stint with the Seahawks, when he took over Gus Bradley to lead the Legion of Boom, that propelled him to his first NFL head coaching job. In 2013, his defense led the league in fewest points allowed (231) and takeaways (39). The unit also was the best in yards allowed, becoming the first team since the 1985 Chicago Bears to get the defensive tripe crown.

Quinn later coached the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020, taking his team to the Super Bowl during the 2016 NFL season. He coached them to an infamous 28-3 lead that was wasted as they allowed the largest comeback in Super Bowl history to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Most recently, Quinn has coached one of the league's best defenses over the last three years with the Dallas Cowboys. 

How the Cowboys have blossomed under Quinn

When Quinn arrived in Dallas in 2021, he was set on fixing a historically bad defense from 2020 under DC Mike Nolan.

He turned it around immediately. It was him who quickly realized Micah Parsons' potential as an edge rusher and changed his position after the Cowboys picked him as an off-ball linebacker. He's implemented a modern, hybrid style of defense in Dallas that has blurred the lines between several positions like safety-linebacker and end-tackle in the defensive line.

Such approach could really attract NFL teams trying to stop the best offenses in the league.

Does Quinn call the plays? 

This would be a big question for the team who hires Quinn. He does in Dallas as defensive coordinator but it was a mixed thing when he was head coach in Atlanta. 

In 2016, he took over the duties from Richard Smith late in the season and the team made the Super Bowl that year. But in 2019, after bad performances from the unit, he admitted to "sharing duties" among the staff.

With the Cowboys, he's been a great play caller, knowing when to dial up the right pressures in several situations. He's as aggressive as they come, and has been blitz-heavy and stunt-heavy in Dallas. 

Quinn is a true player's coach

This is by far Quinn's calling card as a head coach candidate: He'll get players to buy in. Heck, sometimes I like to think Quinn could suit up for a game. 

Even if he doesn't look like a player himself, he knows the nitty gritty of the game and is the ultimate teacher, working very closely with players in the offseason and even in-season. He'll pick up the pads himself and get players to play the right way. 

Players describe him as one of the guys. He's got the love of players because of how much he loves the game and his unit as well. 

Can Quinn lead a franchise?

Even though his stint in Atlanta ended in rough fashion, he still took the Falcons to a Super Bowl and was part of the Seahawks' Super Bowl win versus the Denver Broncos and the following Super Bowl appearance (when the Seahawks lost to the Patriots). 

That speaks volumes to me about Quinn's knowledge of what it takes to go all the way. This is somebody capable of leading an NFL team and somebody who's been patient about taking that second chance. When he does take it, it'll be for a project he strongly believes in. 

NFC foe’s bombshell decision could cost the Cowboys Dan Quinn

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