Washington Commanders hire new head coach

Oct 15, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A Washington Commanders helmet on the bench against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The final NFL head coach vacancy of the 2024 hiring cycle has been filled.

Dan Quinn has been hired as the head coach of the Washington Commanders, according to multiple reports.

Quinn has spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys. He was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for five-plus years prior to that, so he has previous head coaching experience.

Quinn was initially viewed as the favorite for the Seattle Seahawks job after his former team moved on from Pete Carroll, but Seattle instead hired former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Quinn made a name for himself as Carroll’s DC when the Seahawks had their “Legion of Boom” defense and won the Super Bowl in 2013.

It seems like Washington’s first choice was Ben Johnson, who informed the team on Tuesday that he has decided to remain in his current position as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Mike Vrabel then became the gambling favorite to be hired by the Commanders, but Washington went with Quinn instead.

Quinn went 43-42 as head coach with the Falcons. He led the team to the Super Bowl in 2016, where they infamously blew a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots.

Vrabel is 48 and made the playoffs three times in six seasons as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach before being fired last month. He won the 2021 Coach of the Year award. Many will be surprised that the Commanders chose the 53-year-old Quinn over Vrabel.