A lot can change in just a few years, especially in the National Football League. Three years ago, the Atlanta Falcons replaced head coach Dan Quinn with former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Quinn later took a job in Dallas as the defensive coordinator in 2021, restoring his reputation by turning the Cowboys defense around over the last three seasons. As for Smith, he flamed out as the head coach of the Falcons in 2023 and was fired a few hours after the team’s season finale.
Three years later, Smith is back to being a coordinator and Quinn has landed another coaching gig. The Washington Commanders hired Quinn as head coach on Thursday following a thorough search.
Quinn hired as Commanders head coach
Dan Quinn served as Dallas' defensive coordinator the past three seasons. The Cowboys ranked a combined fifth in points and seventh in yards. Under Quinn, the Cowboys lead the NFL with 93 forced turnovers.
Quinn also compiled a 43-42 record in five-plus seasons as the Falcons’… https://t.co/jOOnXfLOPg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2024
Twitter reacts to Quinn's coaching return
Dan Quinn, Raheem Morris, Kyle Shanahan, and Matt LaFleur were all together on the 2016 Falcons coaching staff. They are all head coaches in 2024. Pretty awesome to see that special team have this kind of longevity when it comes to coaching.
— Allen Strk (@allenstrk) February 1, 2024
Good hire. I think DQ learned a lot and had a chance to reflect on his time in Atlanta and what went wrong. He's the right guy to try and rebuild that WSH team. https://t.co/60ZZaArH0a
— 𝖲𝖧𝖨𝖭𝖤 (@xSHINExDBN) February 1, 2024
This is actually a good hire. I think Dan Quinn does better in his second time around. https://t.co/nTgPCnN2kq
— 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒌 🐦⬛🏈🇬🇪🇺🇦🇱🇻 (@CarasikS) February 1, 2024
Wish the best for DQ, But going through a head coaching process with guys like Ben Johnson, Bobby Slowik and Mike MacDonald this kinda feels like a letdown for Washington🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/jHqn0Tn95s
— RaHIM Morris🥷🏾 (@HimJ1122) February 1, 2024
Hmmm…Raheem Morris will face newly minted #Commanders HC Dan Quinn and #Steelers OC Arthur Smith in his first season as Falcons HC. Should be interesting, especially the Pittsburgh game that will be in Atlanta. 😳 https://t.co/FqZWeO7hzq
— Tenitra Batiste (@tenitrabatiste) February 1, 2024
eric bieniemy ain’t never getting an NFL head coaching job. If I were him, I’d seriously consider coaching power five football. https://t.co/XYR1aARsFZ
— Martin Luther Vandross King Jr (@WordsNRoses) February 1, 2024
Dan Quinn his first day in Washington (probably)…🤷🤣🤦 https://t.co/EiSG1XylnB pic.twitter.com/oWIdodU9in
— Rob Thomas👎 (@FollowRobThomas) February 1, 2024
Big day for backwards hat wearers https://t.co/lL6nZw1HBQ pic.twitter.com/vZTC7cec5v
— Jeff Berckes (@gridironborn) February 1, 2024
lol NFL coaching circle is a joke https://t.co/DltBbfiwBa pic.twitter.com/rvseMOwn2O
— Duval's Willie Beamen (@0ptimus_Grind) February 1, 2024
Idk if this was the right move for the Commanders, Eric Bieniemy was right there bruh. https://t.co/Os7hzdQQfE
— Gustavo Fring (@zone6nova) February 1, 2024
Eric Bienemy seeing a white man get his job on the first day of black history month https://t.co/Dcn3B2384E pic.twitter.com/9f2p0QV6sK
— counselor (@antfromphilly) February 1, 2024
Last Time Dan Quinn was a head coach (it wasn't) https://t.co/x04ubTNVdE pic.twitter.com/WWuUvAyntx
— BSports🇺🇸✝️ (@_BSports_) February 1, 2024
Washington basically hired the same coach.. https://t.co/fVUlOWkbGP
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) February 1, 2024
Went from river Boat Ron to Dan Q https://t.co/nDhtawDhek pic.twitter.com/1oHoQQ4VXc
— GB (@NotGiantBetta) February 1, 2024
I'm really, really happy for Dan Quinn and Arthur Smith — I enjoyed working with both of them very much and will be cheering hard for their success (except in one game each next year). Great men, great families.
— Brett Jewkes (@BJewkes) February 1, 2024
Me trying to get hyped up about the Dan Quinn news #commanders https://t.co/EIKIHh80p3 pic.twitter.com/k09Wh2RFTE
— Serenity Now Insanity Later (@TheHogFather25) February 1, 2024
2024 NFL Head Coach Carousel (Age)
Atlanta: Raheem Morris (47)
Carolina: Dave Canales (42)
Las Vegas: Antonio Pierce (45)
LA Chargers: Jim Harbaugh (60)
New England: Jerod Mayo (37)
Seattle: Mike Macdonald (36)
Tennessee: Brian Callahan (39)
Washington: Dan Quinn (53)— Spotrac (@spotrac) February 1, 2024
Every NFL hiring cycle: pic.twitter.com/Cf5GtpaluX
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) February 1, 2024
This was shared to me by a commanders fan week 18 i over looked it until today😒😒😒😒 did Dan Quinn sell👀👀👀
🎥@kpowell0922 pic.twitter.com/BQMhfJGn1E
— Coles Cowboys (@ColesCowboys) February 1, 2024
https://t.co/Dv1kvmvdBc pic.twitter.com/nKuR2Nhe2s
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) February 1, 2024
#Httc @Commanders Dan Quinn welcome to DC let’s get this ball rolling 😎🔥💪🏽 https://t.co/gDoTHecpOk pic.twitter.com/W8i0z6FmzW
— Bigsimple422 (@bigsimple422) February 1, 2024
