Of all the offseason additions the Dallas Cowboys made, only one might be bigger than drafting standout rookie Micah Parsons. The addition of Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn has completely reshaped what was a battered defense into arguably the best in the league, one that Parsons is thriving in.
With how quickly Quinn has turned around his side of the ball it's not a shock to hear that teams are requesting to interview him for Head Coaching jobs, especially when you consider his past success as a head coach. While his last season in Atlanta was a letdown, overall he was very successful in his tenure that included one trip to the Super Bowl.
Cowboys fans everywhere are hoping that this isn't just a one-season wonder with Quinn, and for now, they can continue to breathe easy. Despite the Jacksonville Jaguars requesting permission to speak with Quinn (And Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore), he made it clear that his focus is on leading the Cowboys' defense into the playoffs and declined the opportunity to sit down with them.
It's possible that as a former head coach Quinn knows that these types of stories about Assistant Coaches looking elsewhere can distract from the bigger picture of what the team is trying to accomplish at the time. It's also possible that Quinn is just flat-out happy with his role in Dallas, and why wouldn't he be?
He has a real chance to cement his legacy among some of the best defensive coaches in league history if the Cowboys D continues to play at the high level it is now. He already reached the promised land once with the Legion of Boom Seahawks. If he can do the same with the Cowboys' defense in just one season it would leave no doubt about his brilliance as a defensive coordinator.
While it's possible Quinn could earn a higher salary as a head coach, it shouldn't give Cowboys fans much pause. As we saw last year, Jerry Jones won't hesitate to open up his checkbook to keep elite-level assistant coaches around, as he was able to sign Kellen Moore to an extension despite being tempted by a head coaching opportunity lined up at his Alma Mater, Boise State.
In true Jerry Jones fashion, he is continuing to say all of the right things to support Quinn in whatever direction he decides to take his career.
“I would want them to go ahead and have any visits they might want and leave it at that,” Jones told 105.3FM the Fan. “I would be confident and have experienced it many, many times and confident that their mind is on our team and the opportunity that we got.”
Dan Quinn's name may pop back up in head coaching rumors this offseason, but for now, his focus is solely on beating the Arizona Cardinals. Cowboys fans need to just buckle up and enjoy this ride for as long as it lasts.
