Wednesday saw the surprising news that Pete Carroll won’t return as Seattle Seahawks’ head coach for the 2024 season. That came despite Carroll saying after their final game Sunday and again on his radio show Monday that he hoped to continue in that role for a 15th year. But with Carroll out and shifting to an advisory role, focus has now shifted to who might replace it. And a lot of early reports there are featuring Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Dan Quinn:
#Cowboys DC Dan Quinn would quickly be considered a strong candidate to replace Pete Carroll, who now exits as HC.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2024
Seattle is expected to be interested in, amongst others, in Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, per sources. Quinn worked with Seattle from 2009-2010, and again 2013-14.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2024
Quinn’s 2009-10 stint with the Seahawks saw him serve as defensive line coach and assistant head coach, while his 2013-14 time there was as defensive coordinator and defensive playcaller. He then was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2020. Since 2021, he’s been the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, and his unit there produced excellent results this year:
With Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator, #Cowboys lead NFL in takeaways, defensive TD, and points off turnovers.
NFL Rank
Takeaways 93 1st
Def TD 15 1st
Pts off TO 313 1st pic.twitter.com/4aU9116rLu— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 10, 2024
And that had many prominent NFL analysts discussing how Quinn might be a good fit in Seattle, or in other head coaching jobs:
I think Seattle should conduct a broad search bc there are so many top tier candidates this cycle, buuuuuuuuuuuut Dan Quinn + Devon Witherspoon would be electric
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 10, 2024
The talk about Pete Carroll being out as Coach in Seattle had really perked up lately as has him being moved into the front office. The name I heard connected over and over to replace Carroll – Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, former Seahawks DC
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 10, 2024
What candidates must weigh in their evaluation of the Seahawks head coaching job, with Dan Quinn as the early leader pic.twitter.com/3V4n2XPoju
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 10, 2024
From The Insiders: Pete Carroll is out as #Seahawks head coach, and Seattle will have interest in #Cowboys DC Dan Quinn — but several other teams will, as well. pic.twitter.com/ytNKKHdche
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2024
I can definitely see Dan Quinn interested in this, and he no doubt deserves another opportunity. #Seahawks https://t.co/6unxZw0sHv
— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) January 10, 2024
Big moves in Seattle with Pete Carroll leaving the sideline for an advisory role. I was told a couple of weeks ago to watch out for Dan Quinn as the new coach there. Was Seahawks DC in 2013-14
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 10, 2024
Of course, even if the Seahawks want Quinn for their newly-open coaching position, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll get him. The Tennessee Titans (who made their own surprising coaching move Tuesday by firing Mike Vrabel, who might also get interest from Seattle) have also reportedly asked to interview Quinn, as have three other teams:
Four teams have officially requested to interview Dallas Cowboys DC Dan Quinn for their head coach openings:
– Panthers
– Chargers
– Commanders
– TitansThe Seahawks have not requested him yet but obviously are a destination that make a lot of sense. https://t.co/dxhyqs65HT
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 10, 2024
And with Quinn working for a team still in the playoffs, he can only do virtual interviews before Jan. 21. And if the Cowboys make the NFC Championship Game, he wouldn’t be able to do a second interview (virtual or in-person) until at least Jan. 29. So there are plenty of potential complications. But many are already discussing the idea of Quinn to Seattle:
I’ve been feeling this for a while.
Feels like Dan Quinn was always the successor for Pete Carroll.
Seahawks definitely will be the favorite to land Dan Quinn. & Seattle probably is his top choice too. https://t.co/iUySsMUELa pic.twitter.com/or0jntfD8X
— Seattle ON Tap (@SeattleONTap) January 10, 2024
Pretty clear that the #Seahawks will target "retread" Dan Quinn …and then they will win a bunch of games/championships..
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) January 10, 2024
Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers: 5-0 vs. Seahawks in the last 5 games before Pete Carroll’s firing
But Carroll (especially with Russell Wilson) tortured the 49ers for years. Salute to a legendary head coach.
Hope Seattle hires Dan Quinn
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 10, 2024
Big news for #seahawks with Pete Carroll stepping down as HC … Dan Quinn becomes easiest cultural fit who would potentially modernize the defense https://t.co/nUyD15Lg2S
— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) January 10, 2024
We’ll see if the Quinn to Seattle talk leads to anything in the end. But it’s certainly interesting how much of the focus here has landed on him.
[Ian Rapoport on Twitter]
