3 biggest poachers for Dallas Cowboys coordinator Dan Quinn

I’m not sure what it is, but Chicago has a reputation that just feels like it was tailor-made for coach Quinn. The good news for Cowboys fans is I think former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores will eventually land that job. That’s why I wandered over to another NFC North team that could benefit from hiring coach Quinn.

Minnesota was led by former longtime Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and I think Cowboys fans should be worried about that franchise going back to the well and trying again. Minnesota has an abundance of offensive weapons and they still have some very good defensive pieces as well.

I am a big fan of coach Zimmer. As happy as I was to see him stay on Bill Parcels staff in Dallas way back when I was equally happy to see him get a head coaching opportunity in Minnesota. Zimmer did good things for the Vikings including adding great amounts of talent, but years of inconsistency is a direct reflection of their coach.

I happen to believe that coach Zimmer runs an antiquated system and has failed to adapt to both his players and the ongoing NFL evolution. There should be no reason Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr shouldn’t have a similar role Micah Parsons has in Dallas.

I am the first to say that Minnesota has a lot of talent but I will also say that Zimmer needs an offseason like Quinn had last year to look inward and work on himself. This tweet below is almost 15 months old and is still relevant today.

Both defensive-minded head coaches have been fired in consecutive seasons and while one has rejuvenated his career in Dallas just a year later, Zimmer is now looking for an opportunity to redeem himself.

I have shown some case studies on first-time defensive-sided head coaches in the past, but those same studies show a second go-around is significantly more successful. I feel like the Vikings should go get a coach from the offensive side of the ball to help Kirk Cousins. But a defensive guy like Quinn who would be on his second head-coaching gig shows a bigger success rate than going for a guy on his first try. I’m looking at you, Kellen Moore.

Minnesota ranks just above Dallas in cap space, which is near the bottom, but they do have the 12th overall draft pick this spring. Can anyone guess who was picked 12th overall in the 2021 NFL draft?

I hate the retread movement that goes on in the NFL, but I have to admit, Minnesota is a very appealing destination for Quinn.