The Jacksonville Jaguars have requested to interview the Dallas Cowboys offensive and defensive coordinators, Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn, for their vacant head coach position. This request comes as part of a new league policy that allows for interviews to occur during the last two weeks of the regular season.
This provision is only granted to teams who’ve already fired a coach during the year. The Jaguars dismissed first-year HC Urban Meyer about two weeks ago after going 2-11 in his first and probably only NFL season.
Going into 2021, many expected Kellen Moore to be among the top head coach candidates around the league and for college teams as well. He reportedly turned down his alma mater Boise State back in January to return to the Cowboys.
But while Moore remains an attractive option, it’s been Dan Quinn whose stock has risen this season. Turning the Cowboys from one of the league’s worst units to a turnover factory has given the former “Legion of Boom” coordinator renewed notoriety.
Quinn was hardly a flop as the Falcons head coach from 2016-2019. He had a winning record in both the regular season and playoffs, even leading Atlanta to the Super Bowl in his first year. But with Kyle Shanahan’s offense getting more of the credit, and the Falcons going 7-9 in his final two seasons, Quinn was ultimately let go.
The Jaguars are hardly one of the most attractive landing spots for a prospective head coach given their common residence in the NFL’s basement. But with Trevor Lawrence already in place as a supposed franchise QB, and a division without a clear long-term frontrunner, it could be an opportunity to have success quickly.
Dan Quinn has a connection for insight into working for the Jaguars, particularly owner Shad Khan. Quinn inherited the Seahawks defense in 2013 from Gus Bradley, who took over as Jacksonville’s head coach that year.
So far these are only requests; the Cowboys have a right to refuse. But most teams don’t block their assistant coaches from interviewing even during the playoffs.
