Cowboys should fire Mike McCarthy and promote Dan Quinn after loss to 49ers

The Dallas Cowboys should part ways with Mike McCarthy and just promote Dan Quinn.

This has become the norm for the Dallas Cowboys — an early exit from what was expected to be a lengthy playoff run. Mike McCarthy was hired back in 2020 due to the fact that he won a Super Bowl this century. Instead, the Cowboys are heading home early, no thanks to McCarthy.

The Cowboys lost to the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 in the Wild Card Round to go one-and-done in the playoffs.

If Dallas wants to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995, they should consider making a change at head coach. Luckily for Dallas, they have an in-house candidate in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Mike McCarthy contract

Back in 2020, McCarthy was signed to a five-year deal to be Dallas’ head coach. If the Cowboys were going to part ways McCarthy, his tenure would end after just two seasons.

After taking a year off following his firing from the Green Bay Packers, this was supposed to be a new McCarthy. Instead, there are the same time management issues and decision-making blunders that have been highlighted throughout his career. Not to mention that the Cowboys this season are one of the most penalized teams in the entire league (127 penalties for 1,103 yards), per FootballDB.

All of those things showed up at the worst possible time, in a win-or-go-home playoff game against the 49ers.

Quinn has received a ton of flak for how his run as Atlanta Falcons head coach ended, but the resume speaks for itself.

Prior to his arrival in Atlanta, Quinn was the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks for two seasons (2013-14). His very last season, the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense propelled them to a Super Bowl 48 victory over the Denver Broncos. As Falcons head coach, he took the team to the Super Bowl in his second season. Then, look at what Quinn has done with the Cowboys defense. He helped turn a weakness in Dallas into a strength. This is why Quinn is being considered for nearly every head coaching vacancy in the NFL.

If Dallas wants to make a change at head coach, Quinn would be a great in-house candidate to promote, especially if team owner Jerry Jones does not want to see him leave for another head coaching job.