Cowboys fans can only laugh as Dan Quinn is compared to horrid recent coach

It was time for the Dallas Cowboys to find a new defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn's unit collapsed in epic fashion in the 2023 playoffs. Skating by on trash-talk, sacks and takeaways, Quinn's defense had the feel of a pretender all season.

Despite the performance, the Cowboys were prepared to welcome Quinn back with open arms if he didn't land a head coaching job. After striking out with the Titans, Panthers, Seahawks and Chargers, Quinn's return felt inevitable until the Commanders swooped in and hired him away.

Playoff loss aside, Cowboys fans would have been happy to see Quinn succeed in his second go-around as a head coach. However, the fact he stayed in the division to coach one of Dallas' oldest rivals means there's no love lost.

Quinn's leadership credentials and ability to connect with players will be paramount in changing the culture in Washington. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll pan out. In fact, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports expressed doubt in Quinn in his 2024 head coach rankings.

Former Cowboys DC Dan Quinn is already raising concerns among the media

Quinn checked in at No. 20 in Benjamin's rankings. It's actually a generous spot for the former Cowboys defensive coordinator. However, Benjamin's analysis was harsh on Quinn, as he questioned whether Quinn is a clear upgrade over his Commanders predecessor Ron Rivera.

"Washington saw first hand how much Quinn's Dallas Cowboys defense excelled as a ball-hawking unit, and the club's simultaneous infusion of veteran players should aid his debut. The question is, does Quinn really register as a step forward after Ron Rivera? His teams are feisty, but he hasn't led a winning season as a head coach since 2017, before his old Falcons fizzled to 18-23 from 2018-2020."

Quinn getting compared to Rivera is as disrespectful as it gets. Rivera compiled a 26-40-1 record over four seasons in Washington. His crowning achievement was leading the Burgundy and Gold to a .500 record (8-8-1) in 2022.

A defensive coach, Rivera's Commanders defenses were among the worst in the NFL over his final three seasons. It's a miracle he wasn't fired before the 2023 campaign. Though respected by the locker room, Rivera seldom took accountability for losses and came across as unprepared in press conferences.

It's impossible to say if Quinn will be better than Rivera, but Benjamin brings up a strong point about Quinn's Falcons teams falling off a cliff after he led them to a 29-19 record in his first three seasons, culminating in a Super Bowl appearance in 2016.

Unlike Rivera, Quinn has the backing of a competent owner and front office. He's set up for success, but his Falcons teams didn't lack talent, nor were they dysfunctional up top and yet they underwhelmed more often than not.

Time will tell if Quinn is cut out for the job, but Benjamin clearly believes he could set the project back in his first year on the job.

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