The Washington Commanders have an agreement with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to hire him as coach, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. Washington was the final NFL team to fill its head-coaching vacancy.

Quinn, 53, spent the past three seasons running the defense for the NFC East-rival Cowboys after five-plus seasons coaching the Atlanta Falcons. Quinn coached the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2016 season before being fired after an 0-5 start in 2020.

He became Washington’s choice after Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, considered a top candidate, told teams Tuesday he was staying with Detroit, and after the Seahawks hired Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald on Wednesday.

Controlling owner Josh Harris, new general manager and head of football operations Adam Peters and Quinn give the organization a much-desired new approach after four years of Ron Rivera in charge of everything turned out to be a disappointment. Harris was committed to splitting the personnel and coaching duties this time around.

Much like Peters with the ability to hire a new coach, Quinn now gets the chance to fill out his own staff in his second stint as an NFL head coach. It remains to be seen if Eric Bieniemy returns as offensive coordinator, though that’s not expected, and the defensive coordinator position is vacant after Rivera fired Jack Del Rio midway through this past season.

Quinn’s defense ranked fifth in the league in yards and points allowed, helping Dallas win the NFC East before losing in the first round of the playoffs. He inherits the Commanders after they went 4-13, including two blowout losses to the Cowboys.

Washington does have the second pick in the draft, more than $80 million in salary cap space and the opportunity for Peters and Quinn to handpick the next quarterback for a franchise that has not had any consistency at the position in decades.

BILL BELICHICK: After Washington’s decision to hire Dan Quinn, Bill Belichick will be left out of this offseason’s hiring cycle.

Belichick, who parted ways with the New England Patriots last month following 24 seasons, spoke with the Commanders about their opening and “had support from some decision makers” before the team chose Quinn, according to The Athletic.

Belichick had two interviews with the Falcons before they hired Raheem Morris to be their head coach. Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with New England, is 15 wins away from passing Don Shula for the NFL coaching record.

The 71-year-old Belichick could take a consulting role somewhere, pivot to television, or put his feet up and wait until more jobs inevitably open. Heading into the 2024 season, Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy, Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni, and Giants Coach Brian Daboll could all be on the hot seat.

RAVENS: Baltimore hired Zach Orr as its defensive coordinator after Mike Macdonald left to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week.

The Ravens announced the 31-year-old Orr’s promotion Thursday. He was Baltimore’s inside linebackers coach the past two seasons and played linebacker for the Ravens from 2014-16.

Quinn represents the leader Peters was looking for in the successor to Rivera.

Quinn had also been linked to the Seahawks, for whom he worked under Pete Carroll as defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014 before getting his first chance to run a team with Atlanta. The Falcons led 28-3 in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2017, before losing to the New England Patriots.

 

 

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

High school schedules and scores for Feb. 1-2

Next »

Sports Digest: U.S. marathon trials favorite withdraws because of knee injury