The line for NFL clubs who want to talk to Dan Quinn about their head coaching job is getting longer, and it could soon include one location that’s a sentimental favorite for the Dallas defensive coordinator.
The Tennessee Titans have requested an interview with Quinn, per a Wednesday report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. That organization fired Mike Vrabel on Tuesday after six seasons and three playoff berths with the team, just two years removed from his AP Coach of the Year season.
Tennessee joins the Panthers, Commanders, and Chargers in wanting to speak with the 53-year-old Quinn about their new opening, but a fifth- and very intriguing- team could also be joining the chat soon.
With news Wednesday that Pete Carroll is stepping away as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Quinn’s name immediately surfaced as a presumed front-runner to take over for him.
Quinn did two stints with the Seahawks, the second as their defensive coordinator and architect of the vaunted Legion of Boom defense that propelled Seattle to their first-ever Super Bowl win, for the 2013 season.
The #Titans requested an interview with #Cowboys DC Dan Quinn for their head coaching job, per source.
There are logical connections to Seattle with that job opening, but don't assume that's where DQ lands. He has strong interest elsewhere, with four requests and counting.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 10, 2024
Quinn left Seattle following the next year’s Super Bowl loss to become head coach in Atlanta. There, he guided the Falcons to a Super Bowl in five-plus seasons, his last stop before coming to Dallas to join Mike McCarthy’s staff in 2021.
Seattle has not officially requested time with Quinn as of this writing, but it is widely expected that the two sides will have strong mutual interest, especially given that Carroll, Quinn’s former boss, is remaining with the Seahawks front office in a consultant’s role.
Quinn will not be meeting with any interested teams until after the divisional round of the playoffs is complete, per NFL rules. He has repeatedly told reporters that he is focused on taking the Cowboys defense as far as they can go in this postseason and will concern himself with new career opportunities at a more appropriate time.
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Quinn was a popular interview candidate the past two offseasons but chose both times to return to Dallas, where the coordinator said he had “unfinished business” coaching a rising unit that included Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, DeMarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander Esch, and others.
Cowboys fans may have already resigned themselves to the notion that the well-loved Quinn will depart for another head coaching job sooner rather than later. With several attractive destinations apparently in play, that possibility seems more likely with each day. The real question now is: where will Quinn choose to go?
And then, which current Cowboys assistant coaches and players will end up following him?
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