When Washington’s commanders hired Dan Quinn, one population did not appreciate the decision.
Some believed that hiring a former NFL head coach who had already been fired only doomed commanders to do the same. Sure, most head coaching tenures end in firing, but that wasn’t the point.
By opting for experience and maturity, Washington clearly made the right decision and those who once opposed it are now singing a different tune. Dallas Cowboys fans who celebrated Quinn’s departure to their NFC East division rival — admittedly, a smaller group than before — are also changing their tune.
“What they really should have done was cut (Cowboys coach Mike) McCarthy earlier and kept Dan Quinn,” Chris Long said on his Green Light with Chris Long program (Yote House Media) .
After Quinn accepted the job with the Commanders, he also took coach Joe Whitt Jr. with him to be his defensive coordinator. That left Dallas needing someone to lead the defense that Quinn and Whitt had helped turn into one of the best in the league, and it turned to Mike Zimmer for the job.
At the time, some thought Zimmer would make Quinn’s unit even better and never get gashed on the ground like the Cowboys were in their playoff exit game against the Green Bay Packers in particular.
Ten weeks into the NFL season, Dallas drops to 24th in most rushing yards per play and most passing yards per play compared to the other 32 teams. It is safe to say that these assumptions proved insufficient.
Of course, Quinn would never celebrate another coach’s or team’s failures as a success for him. He shouldn’t do it either.
But as things continue to get worse with the Cowboys, it’s not hard for Commanders fans to look at the coaching they received from this franchise and be grateful that things didn’t turn out differently . Otherwise, it would likely be a very different Dallas team facing Washington in Week 12.
Stay with CommanderGameday and the Locked Commanders podcast for more FREE Washington Commanders coverage throughout the 2024 season.
• Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. 4th in team history to reach milestone
• Commanders players share their thoughts on fourth down decision against Eagles
• Commander WR Terry McLaurin’s Honest Take on Lack of Offensive Execution
• Should commanders make changes after a losing streak?
