The Washington Commanders have agreed to hire Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach after parting ways with Ron Rivera, according to widespread reports.
New Commanders owner Josh Harris has overseen an overhaul of the team’s football operations after they finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record, missing the playoffs for a third straight campaign.
Rivera was fired after four seasons at the helm on January 8, while Adam Peters was brought in as their new general manager four days later.
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Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was among the candidates linked with the vacancy, but he announced his intention to remain in his current role on Tuesday.
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald – who ultimately got the top job with the Seattle Seahawks – were also interviewed by Washington.
However, Quinn will be the first head coaching hire of the Harris era, having spent three seasons directing the Dallas defense.
Commanders set to hire Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as new head coach. (via @rapsheet, @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/K8h179lsaa
— NFL (@NFL) February 1, 2024
Since Quinn joined the Cowboys, they have led the NFL with 93 forced turnovers, also allowing the fifth-fewest points in the league and the seventh-fewest yards.
Prior to his stint with Dallas, Quinn spent five and a half seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, taking them to Super Bowl LI, where they squandered a 28-3 third-quarter lead to lose 34-28 to the New England Patriots.
Atlanta won a combined 10 games across two seasons prior to Quinn took charge, but they then went 8-8, 11-5 and 10-6 during his first three campaigns at the helm.
However, the Falcons then endured back-to-back losing seasons before making a 0-5 start to the 2020 campaign, which led to the decision to fire him in October 2020.
Quinn will join the Commanders at a crucial time, with the team possessing the number two pick in the 2024 draft – as well as four further selections in the top 100 – and expected to move for a quarterback.
