Cowboys Rumors: Jerry Jones Loves DC Dan Quinn amid HC Buzz
January 10, 2022
The Dallas Cowboys reportedly may get "aggressive" in an effort to retain defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as he attracts attention as a potential head coaching candidate.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported Monday that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones "love" Quinn and will work to keep him on their staff.
The former Atlanta Falcons head coach was hired by Dallas last January and helped lead a significant resurgence on the defensive side. The team ranked seventh in scoring defense (21.1 points allowed per game) after finishing 28th in that category last season (29.6).
Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons (84 total tackles and 13 sacks) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (11 inteceptions) led the unit, which—combined with the return of quarterback Dak Prescott—helped the Cowboys win the NFC East with a 12-5 record.
Quinn, who previously led the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense in 2013 and 2014, posted a mediocre 43-42 record across five-plus seasons leading the Atlanta staff. He was fired in October 2020 following an 0-5 start to that season.
Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated reported the 51-year-old New Jersey native is a "top candidate" for the Denver Broncos' vacancy following the firing of Vic Fangio.
In late December, Quinn said he'll "be ready" whenever his next head coaching opportunity comes along, but for now, he's focused on helping the Cowboys.
"I wasn't coming here to look what my next job would be," he told reporters. "I wanted to come in here, have a blast and hopefully kick ass."
So far the Dallas defense has done a pretty good job of trying to achieve that goal, but the group will be tested heavily throughout the NFC playoffs.
The Cowboys will have to face the San Francisco 49ers (seventh in total offense) and possibly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second) and Green Bay Packers (10th) en route to a potential Super Bowl appearance.
Should Dallas make a run courtesy of some strong defensive performances, interest in Quinn will likely grow with five head coaching jobs already available and the potential for more in the weeks ahead.
It sounds like the Jones family is gearing up to make a strong push to keep him, however, probably in the form of a lucrative new contract.