One of the things that impressed the Washington Commanders in their interview process with Dan Quinn this year was his preparation and attention to detail. Quinn had been a head coach before, going 43-42 in five-plus seasons as coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
The high point of Quinn’s Atlanta tenure came in 2016 when the Falcons won the NFC and led the Patriots 28-3 in Super Bowl LI before falling 34-28. Quinn did not post a winning record in his final 2.5 seasons with the Falcons.
Quinn landed in Dallas in 2021 as the defensive coordinator. In three seasons with the Cowboys, they finished in the top five of most statistical categories each year, making Quinn a hot head coaching candidate again.
Quinn wasn’t going to take just any job; it needed to be the right one. Washington was the right opportunity for Quinn. Quinn has described the effort he’s put forth since his time in Atlanta to avoid repeating some of the same mistakes. He’s repeatedly asked other leaders for advice.
That hasn’t changed since the Commanders hired Quinn.
Quinn’s coaching staff includes offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury (former Cardinals head coach), running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, and pass game coordinator Brian Johnson (former Eagles offensive coordinator). Each brings something different to Ashburn, and Quinn is leaning heavily on his staff in the development of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Their working relationship was on display when Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports recently visited Ashburn.
Lynn may be the running backs coach/run game coordinator, but as a former head coach, he was instrumental in developing Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert.
From Epstein:
“I want you to think about your time with Justin: What did you do that was too much? What did you do that was not enough?” Quinn asked Lynn on June 5. “Don’t answer me now.”
Next, there is Kingsbury. While his time as head coach of the Cardinals produced mixed results, Kingsbury’s work with young quarterbacks, most recently Kyler Murray, is respected around the NFL.
Johnson spent the past three seasons with the Eagles working with Jalen Hurts.
Quinn isn’t only reaching out to staff members. Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson recently visited Ashburn for her own “professional development,” Quinn used it as a learning opportunity.
“Teaching and coaching and leading transcend the sport and sector,” Lawson said, per Epstein.
Who knows how Quinn’s tenure in Washington will go? Whatever the result, it will not result from being outworked or unprepared. Quinn views the Commanders as the opportunity of a lifetime, and he’s not afraid of leaning on others as he looks to resurrect the long-struggling franchise.
