The Atlanta Falcons made it official, announcing that former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is their new head coach.
The Seahawks had the top-ranked defense over the past two seasons.
In 2014, Quinn’s defense led the NFL in scoring defense (15.9), total defense (267.1), and passing yards (185.6), while ranking third in rushing yards (81.5) allowed.
“This is an exciting day for the Atlanta Falcons franchise and our fans,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. “Dan is a talented football coach who has a deep and diverse history in the game, which will serve us well. As we got to know Dan during the interview process, it became clear that he has a definitive plan for our football team and what it will take to win on a consistent basis. He also has a proven ability to develop players by maximizing their individual strengths.
"For these and many other reasons, Dan became our top pick, and I’m confident our players, staff, fans and community will be proud to have him represent the Falcons. I would like to personally thank Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for his patience and support during our head coach search. I’m sure the Seahawks will be sorry to see Dan leave, but no one has been more supportive of this opportunity for Dan than Pete.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity, and I am excited to be the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons,” Quinn said. “This felt like the right fit from the beginning, and I want to thank Mr. Blank for his resolve as this was an extended and complicated process. My goal is to build upon the foundation that has been laid here and to play a physical brand of football as we build a championship caliber team.”
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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun