Josh Harris, managing partner of the Washington Commanders, stated, “My partners and I entered this offseason intent on hiring elite candidates to shape the next chapter of Commanders football and I believe we did just that — first with Adam Peters and now by welcoming the highly respected Dan Quinn as our head coach.” “Dan has built strong, explosive, and dynamic teams that compete fiercely, earning him the appropriate reputation as one of the NFL’s best defensive strategists. Above all, though, he is a fantastic leader who pulls out the best in his staff, coaches, and players. Everyone we spoke with along this process told us as much, and when we talked to Dan about our common goal of creating a successful franchise, he confirmed it. In keeping with our goal of giving our supporters a team capable of winning a title, we’ve made another significant advancement by appointing such a reputable, successful, and driven leader as head coach. I’m thrilled to have Dan and his wife Stacey join the Commanders family and am very optimistic about our future together.”
Quinn provides decades of coaching expertise, the most of which he gained at the NFL level. Quinn was named the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator in 2021. He has played for the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers. In addition, he spent six seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, leading the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2016.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to become the next head coach of such a storied franchise and fanbase,” stated Quinn. Josh Harris, the ownership group, and Adam Peters are leading us, and we are excited to take the Washington Commanders football team into a new era. The organization has an amazing vision, and I’m thrilled to be involved in the next phase of its development.
“For the past three seasons, I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Mike McCarthy, Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and the whole Dallas Cowboys organization. In a very short period of time, the coaching staff, players, and everyone else in the organization became family. Although we have a difficult challenge ahead of us, Adam, the ownership group, and I are working together to achieve our objective: regularly contending for Super Bowls every year.”
Quinn has a history of assembling some of the league’s most formidable groups and brings that experience to Washington. As the defensive coordinator during the most successful period in Seahawks history, he oversaw the “Legion of Boom,” the first team to lead the league in takeaways, yards allowed, and points allowed since the 1985 Chicago Bears.
Quinn was also essential in improving the Cowboys defense, which allowed 29.6 points per game in 2020. When he was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, the defense finished in the top 10 in terms of points allowed, coming in fifth in 2023. In addition, the Cowboys tied for 12th place in turnovers and seventh in total yards allowed. The Associated Press awarded him Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021.
However, his ability to establish a strong culture, lead, and connect with players is one of his strongest traits. Additionally, general manager Adam Peters and managing partner Josh Harris mentioned that they were looking for in a head coach.
“Leadership, great communication, being able to be honest, direct and up front…and they’re all intertwined,” Peters stated. “You must possess exceptional intelligence and drive. A great head coach and leader are comprised of numerous attributes, but at the core, it all comes down to being a wonderful person whom others are willing to follow.”
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