Dan Quinn tells groups he’s staying on because the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator and isn’t looking for head teaching jobs

Maybe the largest domino of the Dallas Cowboys offseason fell Thursday afternoon.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will return to Dallas for a 3rd season after three head coach interviews, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed to Dallas reporters.

“We’re all very excited to have Dan again,” McCarthy mentioned per ESPN’s Todd Archer. “I just lately had the chance to go to him. That is huge for us. Provides us continuity. Positively what we have now achieved within the final two years, constructing on that.

“Truthfully, I personally can’t let you know how grateful I’m.”

Quinn had utilized for positions as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. The Cowboys sought his return, though NFL groups can’t block strikes to a different franchise that qualifies for promotion.

McCarthy cited workers and participant relationships as causes he believes Quinn selected to return to the Cowboys earlier than the positions had been crammed. Dallas’ progress relative to the standing of the franchises he was interviewed with may have been thought-about.

Quinn’s subsequent alternative shall be his second as head coach, having managed the Falcons from 2015 to mid-2020 and being promoted to the Tremendous Bowl within the 2016 season.

Dan Quinn instructed groups he’s staying on because the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed to reporters Thursday. (Photograph by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photos)

“He understands at this level in his life how exhausting it’s to win a Tremendous Bowl,” McCarthy mentioned of Quinn. “So I believe all these issues contribute to that. I positively assume Dan is able to being choosy. And I’m very completely satisfied concerning the determination.”

Quinn led a Cowboys protection that led the league in consecutive seasons on the diner, the primary unit to retain that crown because the Pittsburgh Steelers within the Nineteen Seventies.

The Cowboys ranked fifth in factors allowable in 2021, Quinn’s inaugural season, after ending seventh in 2020. Evaluate that to the final 12 months earlier than Quinn’s arrival, when the Dallas unit completed twenty eighth in 2019.

Quinn has overseen the breakout of gamers together with two-time All-Professional Micah Parsons, whom Quinn has used creatively as an off-ball linebacker and now more and more as an edge rusher. He has additionally inspired versatility in his defenders, together with security veteran Jayron Kearse, who has linebacker-like boxing on tight ends.

The story goes on

“A part of the participant I’m now’s as a result of coach Quinn gave me the chance,” Kearse mentioned earlier this month. “There’s nothing he doesn’t assume I can do, nothing he gained’t do to place me in positions the place I can go on the market and play at a excessive degree.

“A type of coaches that guys would run by a wall in that locker room for. … He was despatched from heaven for me.”

Of their divisional spherical loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys’ protection held the 49ers to simply 19 factors. Quarterback Brock Purdy mentioned this week Dallas has “probably the greatest defenses” the 49ers have seen this 12 months.

McCarthy mentioned Thursday Cowboys workforce proprietor Jerry Jones instructed him this week he hopes McCarthy can practice so long as franchise legend Tom Landry.

McCarthy declined to offer offensive coordinator Kellen Moore the identical confidence when requested.

However an essential teaching determination appears to have been made. And the Cowboys defensive gamers will little doubt have a good time.

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