After three seasons of leading the Dallas Cowboys defense, Dan Quinn moved within the NFC East to become the Washington Commanders’ new head coach.
Commanders’ majority owner Josh Harris cleaned house in the offseason and landed on Quinn to lead the team after parting ways with former head coach Ron Rivera.
Quinn was in high demand this past hiring cycle, but lands in Washington who has some young pieces on both ends of the field to work with.
The Commanders have some work to do in free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft to give Quinn more talent to mold and develop, but the direction going forward is clear.
People like former quarterback Matt Ryan know Quinn well and he offered his thoughts on the hiring via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
“Dan is an awesome coach,” Ryan said. “I loved my time with him in Atlanta. I think they’re gonna get somebody who’s got great energy day in and day out.”
Matt Ryan on what the Commanders are getting in Dan Quinn: pic.twitter.com/EDbW2NZnaB
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 6, 2024
Ryan and Quinn spent several years together with the Atlanta Falcons and came close to winning a Super Bowl.
Despite being a little older, Quinn’s got energy and is well-respected by coaches and players for his ability to communicate and teach.
Quinn is also a great defensive mind as evidenced by Dallas being one of the best defensive teams in the league during the 2023 NFL season.
It might take a couple of years before Washington is back in the postseason race, but at least with Quinn on board the franchise can begin to establish its new identity.
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Patrick Mahomes Reveals His Thoughts On Commanders Hiring Kliff Kingsbury
