Sources – Commanders hire Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as new coach،
ASHBURN, Va. – The Washington Commanders are hiring Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their next coach, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Quinn replaces Ron Rivera, who was fired by new owner Josh Harris a day after the season ended. The Commanders hired Adam Peters as general manager on January 12. The moves represent the first significant hires on the football side for Harris, who completed the purchase of the team in July.
Quinn, 53, has been Dallas' defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. The Cowboys ranked fifth overall in points and seventh in yards. Under Quinn, the Cowboys led the NFL with 93 forced turnovers.
Rivera is a possibility to replace Quinn in Dallas, as sources told ESPN the Cowboys will meet with the former Commanders coach. Joe Whitt Jr., longtime assistant to Mike McCarthy who served as the Cowboys' passing game coordinator, is believed to be the top internal candidate.
Quinn previously served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2020, taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl following the 2016 season, when they lost to the New England Patriots in overtime after trailing 28-3.
Atlanta won a total of 10 games in two seasons before his arrival. The Falcons went 29-19 in Quinn's first three seasons as coach, but 14-23 in his final two-plus seasons. He finished 43-42 overall and 3-2 in the playoffs.
Prior to his time in Atlanta, Quinn served as defensive coordinator for two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. There, his defenses ranked first in points and yards allowed each season.
Dallas ranked fifth in yards and goals this season. The Cowboys have been a top-10 defensive scorer in each of Quinn's three years.
Quinn will have a lot of work to do in Washington. The Commanders finished 4-13 last season, haven't had a winning record since 2016 and haven't won a playoff game since the 2005 season.
But the Commanders own the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, where they can draft their quarterback of the future, and will make five picks in the top 100. They also have about $70 million in available cap space, with the possibility of creating at least $15 million more by releasing various players.
ESPN's Todd Archer contributed to this report.
