NFL Rumors: Cowboys Deny Dan Quinn, Commanders' Interview with DB Coach Al Harris

The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly denied the Washington Commanders' request to interview defensive backs coach Al Harris.

According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys also stopped Washington from interviewing tight ends coach Lunda Wells, but they allowed the Commanders to speak with assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd and quality control coach/defensive assistant Pete Ohnegian.

Dan Quinn, who served as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, was hired last week as the Commanders' new head coach, and he is working to build out his staff.

Harris, 49, has been the Cowboys' defensive backs coach since 2020, which was the same year Mike McCarthy was named head coach.

McCarthy and Harris have a long history together, as McCarthy was the Green Bay Packers' head coach from 2006 to 2018 and Harris played under him as a cornerback from 2006 to 2009, earning two Pro Bowl selections during that time.

Harris was part of the Kansas City Chiefs' coaching staff from 2013 to 2018 as an assistant secondary coach, defensive assistant and secondary/cornerbacks coach, and he spent one season at Florida Atlantic University as a defensive assistant before joining McCarthy in Dallas.

Although Quinn and Harris had never worked together before being part of the same staff in Dallas, the success of the Cowboys' defense suggests that they meshed well.

In 2021 Quinn, was named NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, as Dallas ranked seventh in points allowed and first in takeaways.

The 2023 campaign was arguably Dallas' best under Quinn, as they ranked fifth in both total defense and scoring defense,

Harris has worked wonders with the Cowboys' secondary since joining the staff in 2020, especially in terms of interceptions, as Dallas ranked eighth or better in the NFL in picks in each of the past three seasons.

In 2021, Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs led the NFL with 11 interceptions and was named a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro. This season, cornerback DaRon Bland led the league with nine interceptions and set an NFL record with five pick sixes, resulting in him being named a Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro and NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist.

The Cowboys are in the process of interviewing candidates to replace Quinn as DC, and although they aren't known to have interviewed Harris for the position yet, he could be an option.

Since the Cowboys were reportedly able to block Harris from interviewing with the Commanders, it means Quinn did not intend to interview him for a position that is higher ranking than his current defensive backs coach gig in Dallas.