The Washington Commanders are set to introduce new head coach Dan Quinn to the media on Monday. On Sunday night, Quinn and the Commanders were busy locking up his two most important hires at offensive and defensive coordinator.
First, the Commanders hired Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Shortly after, Washington found its defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr.
Whitt’s hiring isn’t a surprise, as several reported he was expected to follow Quinn from Dallas to Washington last week. The Cowboys were planning to interview Whitt as Quinn’s replacement on Monday, as he’d be one of four in contention for the vacant Dallas defensive coordinator position.
Joe Whitt was set to interview with the Cowboys on Monday. But he is not taking the chance in being one of four candidates when he is the guy for Washington https://t.co/ElL0LYPN1p
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) February 5, 2024
Whitt Jr. has spent the past three seasons as Dallas’s secondary coach and passing game coordinator. Under Quinn and Whitt’s leadership, the team led the NFL in takeaways with 93, while Buffalo was the next closest team with 80.
Whitt Jr., 45, played college football at Auburn and began his coaching career there in 2000. After spending six seasons at three different colleges, his first NFL opportunity came in 2007 with the Falcons as assistant defensive backs coach.
He moved to Green Bay in 2008 as a quality control coach, but in 2009 became cornerbacks coach, a role he held for the next nine seasons. He was Green Bay’s defensive passing game coordinator in 2018.
In 2019, he took over as Cleveland’s secondary and passing game coordinator, a role he held for one season, and returned to Atlanta in 2020 in the same position.
Whitt Jr. came to Dallas in 2021, reuniting him with Quinn (who hired him in Atlanta) and head coach Mike McCarthy.
Whitt Jr. has overseen the development of some terrific cornerbacks at every stop throughout his NFL career. Dallas cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland led the NFL in interceptions in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Quinn’s press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET Monday.
