Tag: Dan Quinn

Oct 13, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) stands on the sidelines during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Coach: QB Jayden Daniels (ribs) to play, barring setback

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start Sunday against the Chicago Bears, barring a setback in pregame warmups, coach Dan Quinn told CBS Sports.

Quinn said Daniels looked good in practice Friday as the rookie recovered from a rib injury he suffered in the first quarter of a 40-7 blowout of the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.

Daniels had been listed as questionable.

A Daniels start means a showdown between the top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft: No. 1 Caleb Williams, the quarterback of the Bears (4-2), and Daniels, the No. 2 overall selection by the Commanders (5-2).

In seven games (all starts) this season, Daniels has completed 75.6 percent of his passes for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 372 yards and four scores on 66 carries.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (rib) labeled week-to-week

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is “week-to-week” with a rib injury suffered early in Sunday’s victory over the Carolina Panthers, head coach Dan Quinn said Monday.

Quinn said of the injury, which he did not describe in specifics, “It’s not going to be something that’s going to knock him out for a long term.”

“The status for Jayden we’ll put down as week-to-week,” Quinn said. “We’ll take him through all the steps at practice and assess how he’s doing and keep working through that. We’re hopeful he can play, but we’ll also make sure to take every precautionary step and do it smartly for the player and the man.”

Quinn confirmed that Daniels, 23, was injured when he “fell awkwardly” at the end of a 46-yard run on the team’s first offensive play. Daniels stayed in the game to complete the series, which ended with a field goal, before he was replaced by veteran Marcus Mariota for the rest of the contest.

“He was able to finish out that drive, but it was the best call to wait it out,” Quinn said.

The host Commanders won 40-7 to improve to 5-2. Daniels finished with three rushes for 50 yards and completing both pass attempts for 6 yards.

Quinn said Daniels would not return to action until recovery is completed.

“We’re not going to miss one step of this, all the way through. It’s really important to get it right, and we will,” Quinn said. “He’s such a unique player that I want to make sure he can be him(self) full in his own way. The movement, throwing and all the stuff that would go with that.”

Daniels has started all seven games and has completed 127 of 168 passes (league-best 75.6 percent) for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 66 rushing attempts for 372 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and four TDs and is the early favorite to be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Commanders selected the last season’s Heisman Trophy winner second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU. The top pick, quarterback Caleb Williams of Southern California, went to the Chicago Bears (4-2), who visit Washington on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dan Quinn says Eric Bieniemy won’t return to Commanders’ staff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Eric Bieniemy is out of a job less than one year after leaving the Kansas City Chiefs for the Washington Commanders.

At his introductory press conference Monday, new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Bieniemy, Washington’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2023, will not be retained.

The Commanders hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator. Quinn said Monday that he “had a good visit” with Bieniemy.

“I think he’s an excellent coach. We’re not going to work together here,” Quinn said. “I wanted him to know I respect the work that he’s done. I wish EB nothing but the best.”

Bieniemy, 54, spent a decade on the Chiefs’ staff, spending 2013-17 as their running backs coach and being elevated to offensive coordinator in 2018. Head coach Andy Reid remained the Chiefs’ offensive play-caller.

Bieniemy, who is Black, had several interviews for head-coaching positions but was never offered a job. After the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles last year, he accepted the Washington position as an opportunity to build his own staff and call plays.

The Commanders went 4-13 in 2023, ending on an eight-game losing streak. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired at season’s end.

Bieniemy — who interviewed for the head-coaching role that ultimately went to Quinn — was let go despite having a year left on his contract.

As for the Commanders, 2024 could mark the start of a new era. Josh Harris purchased the team from Dan Snyder last year. The new ownership group hired Adam Peters as general manager. Washington controls the second pick in the draft and is a likely candidate to select a franchise quarterback.

Peters said he and Quinn “have a shared vision that we’re going to build a team with the play style and the identity that you guys will love to watch.”

Quinn, who guided the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance during a six-year tenure as head coach, spent the past three seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator and was a popular candidate to interview for head jobs. His new position sees him move to an NFC East division rival.

“It was the one where it was like a flashing light to me,” Quinn said Monday. “This is the moment. This is the one.”

Quinn hired Dallas secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. to be his defensive coordinator, saying Monday that Whitt will call the defensive plays.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2022; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Dan Quinn to be named head coach of Commanders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders will name Dan Quinn as their head coach, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

The Commanders, who fired Ron Rivera at the end of a 4-13 season in 2023, were the only team that had yet to hire a head coach among the eight openings this winter.

Quinn, 53, will jump to Washington from the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys, where he served as the defensive coordinator since 2021. He was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-20 and tallied a 43-42 record in five-plus seasons.

He led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI following an 11-5 regular season in 2016. The Falcons took a 28-3 lead in the third quarter but couldn’t score again and lost to the New England Patriots 34-28 in overtime.

Quinn began his NFL coaching career in 2001 as a defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers and rose through the ranks in jobs with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2013-14.

Many had expected Quinn to replace Pete Carroll in Seattle, but the Seahawks hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, leaving Quinn for the Commanders.

He’ll be expected to work with new general manager Adam Peters to improve the Commanders defense, which finished last in the NFL under coordinator Jack Del Rio in overall defense (388.9 yards per game), points (30.5) and passing yards (262.2).

Quinn’s Dallas defense ranked in the top five in each category.

The reported finalists in Washington were Quinn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Ravens associate head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2022; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys DC Dan Quinn has four HC interviews this week

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Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will interview this week for the available head coaching position with four NFL teams, Sports Illustrated reported Monday.

Quinn, 53, reportedly is expected to conduct interviews via Zoom with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, the Washington Commanders on Thursday and the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday.

Quinn’s season ended Sunday when the second-seeded Cowboys lost 48-32 to the seventh-seeeded Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game.

Dallas finished the regular season ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring defense (18.5 points per game) and total defense (299.7 yards per game). The Cowboys also tied for fifth with 26 takeaways.

Quinn had interviews with the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts last January before announcing he’d be staying in Dallas to address “unfinished business.”

Quinn went 43-42 in five-plus seasons as Atlanta’s head coach and guided the Falcons to the Super Bowl following the 2016 season. Atlanta blew a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl and lost 34-28 in overtime to the New England Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Aug 4, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn talks to players during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cowboys DC Dan Quinn plans multiple HC interviews

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn plans to interview with the Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders about their head-coaching vacancies, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

The interviews would likely take place at the end of next week.

Quinn’s Cowboys, the No. 2 seed in the NFC, host the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game on Sunday.

Dallas finished the regular season ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring defense (18.5 points per game) and total defense (299.7 yards per game). The Cowboys also tied for fifth with 26 takeaways.

Quinn, 53, had interviews with the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts last January before announcing he’d be staying in Dallas to address “unfinished business.”

Quinn went 43-42 in five-plus seasons as Atlanta coach and guided the Falcons to the Super Bowl following the 2016 season. Atlanta blew a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl and lost 34-28 in overtime to the New England Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday talks during a press conference Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, after a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Reports: Colts’ seven finalists include interim coach Jeff Saturday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Interim head coach Jeff Saturday moved into the round of second interviews with the Indianapolis Colts, who reportedly have narrowed their vast list of candidates to seven or eight finalists.

ESPN reported Saturday’s second interview would take place Wednesday.

Saturday was 1-7 as interim coach, winning his debut upon replacing Frank Reich but finishing with a seven-game losing streak. Saturday, 47, was a six-time Pro Bowl center who played for the Colts, Ravens and Packers. He was an NFL in-studio analyst at ESPN when he was placed into the lead sideline role by owner Jim Irsay.

Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard are leading interviews with candidates, but have yet to gain an audience with 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. Ryans, a finalist to become head coach of the Houston Texans, cannot be interviewed until after the 49ers are eliminated from the playoffs.

At this point in the playoffs, NFL rules permit coaches whose teams are still involved in the postseason — Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is also a finalist with the Texans — to interview only if they’ve already conducted a first interview with the team this offseason.

The Indianapolis Star reported the other known finalists will interview in this order: Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero (Thursday), Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Quinn remains in the mix for openings to become head coach of the Broncos and Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Onxard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn runs drills during training camp at River Ridge Fields in Oxnard, CA. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Cardinals set second interview with Cowboys’ Dan Quinn

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Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is scheduled for an in-person interview to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, his second meeting with the team.

Quinn interviewed with Arizona via video conference on Saturday before Dallas lost a divisional playoff game to the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Network reported Quinn and the Cardinals will meet this week, while the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos remain interested in hiring the former Atlanta Falcons head coach.

Quinn interviewed with the Broncos on Friday and is reportedly among finalists the Colts are considering.

After winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks as defensive coordinator, Quinn took over the Falcons and compiled a record of 43-42. Quinn was 3-2 in the posteason, taking the Falcons to Super Bowl LI where the New England Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to deny him another Lombardi Trophy.

Also coveted as a head-coaching candidate in 2021, the Cowboys kept Quinn at defensive coordinator last January by increasing his salary and extending his contract.

The Cardinals also are scheduled to interview Sean Payton on Thursday, per reports. They reportedly will interview Brian Flores and did interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn last weekend. Arizona also interviewed former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, their defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Broncos DC Ejiro Evero.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2022; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Broncos seek to interview Dan Quinn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Denver Broncos have requested permission from the Dallas Cowboys to interview Dan Quinn – again – for their head coaching vacancy, NFL Network and 9News reported Monday.

Quinn was a finalist for the vacancy last year before the team opted to hire Nathaniel Hackett, since fired after starting 4-11.

Senior assistant Jerry Rosburg finished out the season as interim head coach.

The Broncos won’t be able to talk to Quinn until after the Cowboys’ playoff game next Monday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Broncos also requested to interview former Saints coach Sean Payton. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero are also considered candidates for the post.

Quinn went 43-42 as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-20, going 3-2 in the playoffs and taking the team to Super Bowl LI. He was fired after an 0-5 start to the 2020 season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2020; Frisco, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones answers questions with new head coach Mike McCarthy during a press conference at Ford Center at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Jones: Mike McCarthy was not ‘twisting in the wind’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday that Mike McCarthy’s job was never in jeopardy, despite last week’s perceived lack of endorsement of his head coach.

Jones said it was merely a strategy aimed at keeping defensive coordinator Dan Quinn from leaving for another NFL head coaching position.

“The thing I want to clear is up is that the idea of Mike twisting in the wind wasn’t the case at all,” Jones said in an interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “There was never an issue with me with Mike being the head coach. You never heard that from me. I didn’t want to get involved publicly because they would have just made it more it more interesting for another club.”

Quinn withdrew his name from consideration for coaching jobs with the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. He interviewed with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, who selected other coaches on Thursday, and twice interviewed with the Giants.

Jones’ stance Friday was in stark contrast to the one he presented last week. He acknowledged being “very, very frustrated” and said the “ultimate decision in these coaches is one that I have to make.”

Those comments came five days removed from Dallas’ 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL wild-card game. The Cowboys won the NFC East and were the No. 3 seed in the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 12-5 record.

McCarthy replaced Jason Garrett before the 2020 season and has an 18-15 mark. He has three years remaining on his contract.

Jones also addressed the public’s interest in Sean Payton, who stepped down as the New Orleans Saints coach this week. Payton previously worked as an assistant with the Cowboys from 2003-05.

“I understand the speculation. Sean is an outstanding coach. But I haven’t talked to him and am not in any way part of his departure there in New Orleans,” Jones said. “He didn’t have any place in anything I’m doing regarding our staff.”

–Field Level Media