Cowboys pick up massive coaching win for second straight offseason

The Cowboys don’t have to worry about replacing Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator after he decided to remain in Dallas in pursuit of a Super Bowl.

Dan Quinn wants to win another Super Bowl and he seems to understand he’s a lot closer to doing that as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys than as the head coach of the Cardinals, Colts or Broncos.

On Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that Quinn “informed interested teams that he is staying in Dallas.”

“Quinn was a top candidate for the Cardinals’ head coaching job and also interviewed with the Colts and Broncos. But his heart is in Dallas and he wants to win a Super Bowl there,” Pelissero tweeted.

DC Dan Quinn prioritizes Super Bowl with the Cowboys over head coach gig

The Cowboys hired Quinn to revamp their struggling defense in 2021. His efforts have paid off with two straight 12-win seasons and trips to the playoffs. The year before he arrived, Dallas ranked 28th in points allowed. They have ranked in the Top 10 in that metric each of the last two years.

It was Quinn’s defense that gave the Cowboys a chance at making it to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1996 season. The offense fell short as Dak Prescott threw two interceptions and Dallas fell 19-12 to the 49ers. Mike McCarthy may have been on the hot seat after that loss, but the DC only looked more desirable.

Naturally, the success Quinn has had as a defensive coordinator has made him a hot commodity on the head coaching market. While his time as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons ended in disappointment, his work as a DC since has proven he is still an exceptional coach. Many teams would be willing to give him a second chance running the show.

Instead, Quinn is focused on the Cowboys. He has decided to return to Dallas for two straight offseasons to run the defense under Mike McCarthy.