Dan Quinn
Coaching Record
| Years Coached | Record | Win % | Playoff record | Playoff win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 184-158-0 | 53.80% | 11-9 | 55.00% |
Coaching Tree
Parents:
Pete Carroll, Dennis Erickson, Eric Mangini, Steve Mariucci, Jim L. Mora (Jr.), Nick Saban
Children:
Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan
Biography
Career Summary
Dan Quinn is a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) and has been the head coach for the Washington Commanders since 2024. Prior to this season, he coached for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys for twenty-one seasons. His most recent position was with the Cowboys as their defensive coordinator. During his career he was a head coach for seven seasons, first with the Atlanta Falcons. He led the Falcons for six seasons, compiling a record of 47-49-0. He was fired from the Falcons on Sunday, October 11, 2020. His next head coaching stint was with the Washington Commanders for the 2024 season, leading the team to a 9-5-0 record. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 56-54-0 across seven seasons including going 3-2-0 in the playoffs.
Career Awards
During the 2016 season as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons he coached Matt Ryan to the AP Offensive Player of the Year.
Dan Quinn Coaching Tree
Before he was a head coach, Quinn served as an assistant coach for Steve Mariucci, Dennis Erickson, Nick Saban, Eric Mangini, Jim L. Mora (Jr.), Pete Carroll, and Mike McCarthy. During this time, he coached for three years for Pete Carroll and Mike McCarthy. During his time as head coach, three assistant coaches, (Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel, and Kyle Shanahan) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 162-112-0 in the regular season and 11-10 in the playoffs during their seventeen seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.
Personal Information
Quinn was born on Friday, September 11, 1970 in Morristown, New Jersey.
Table of Contents
Playing Career
Quinn started his career in football as a defensive lineman for his hometown school, Morristown High. After graduating he left and attended Salisbury State where he also played as a defensive linesman before entering his career in coaching.
Coaching Career
College Coaching
College of William & Mary
In 1994 he began his now long career in coaching as the defensive line coach for the College of William & Mary. During his time with the college team they went 8-3 for the season before Quinn left to work for the Virginia Military Institute.
Virginia Military Institute
Hired on in 1995 as their defensive line coach, he worked alongside the now famous coach Mike Tomlin who coached the wide receivers for the Institute. He left a year later to take a more permanent position with another school.
Hofstra University
In 1996 Quinn began working with Hofstra as their new defensive line coach. He has stated himself that it was “one of the most awesome places to come up as a young coach… due to the guidance of the late Joe Gardi.”
His final season with the college in 2000 he was promoted to defensive coordinator as well as his usual position as defensive line coach. This promotion would mark the first time he could call his own defense until 2011.
First NFL Stint
San Francisco 49ers
Quinn began his NFL coaching career with San Francisco 49ers as their defensive quality control coach in 2001 and 2002. The 49ers finished first in the NFC West Division in 2002, thanks in part to his assistance with the defense. In 2003 he was back where he was most often seen, as the defensive line coach. He remained with the 49ers until 2004.
Miami Dolphins
He was hired by the Miami Dolphins in 2005 as their new defensive line coach and would remain there for the season after as well. Working with one of the oldest defensive lines in the NFL, he guided the team improve on defense to fourth overall on defense in 2006 and averaged 48 sacks a season. He was fired by the new head coach Cam Cameron in early 2007.
New York Jets
Quinn signed his contract with the New York Jets in February of 2007 to work as their defensive line coach for two years under head coach Eric Mangini. During his two seasons with the Jets, the team went 4-12 in 2007 and 9-7 in 2008.
Seattle Seahawks
In 2009 he was hired as the new defensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks for a two year stint. While the team struggled during his tenure, winning only 12 of 32 games, they did win the NFC East during the 2010 season.
Return to College
University of Florida
When 2011 rolled around Quinn got his second position as defensive coordinator/defensive line coach back in the college section. The Gators ranked 8th nationally in defense on his first year with them and his second year the team went 12-2. They closed the season with a loss in the Sugar Bowl to Louisville, 23-33.
Return to the NFL
Seattle Seahawks
Quinn finally got his chance at making the calls on his defense in the NFL in 2013, when he signed back on to the Seahawks as their Defensive Coordinator. The very first season back the team went 13-3 and the second 12-4, finishing first place in the NFC West Division. The team made it to the Super Bowl both seasons he was in charge of their defense, winning in 2013 and losing in 2014.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons hired Quinn to be their latest head coach for the 2015 season.
History
| Year | Position | Record | Playoff record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Washington Commanders | Head Coach | 9-5-0 | 0-0 |
| 2023 Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Coordinator | 12-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 2022 Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Coordinator | 12-5-0 | 1-1 |
| 2021 Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Coordinator | 12-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 2020 Atlanta Falcons | Head Coach | 0-5-0 | 0-0 |
| 2019 Atlanta Falcons | Head Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2018 Atlanta Falcons | Head Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2017 Atlanta Falcons | Head Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 2016 Atlanta Falcons | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 2-1 |
| 2015 Atlanta Falcons | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 2014 Seattle Seahawks | Defensive Coordinator | 12-4-0 | 2-1 |
| 2013 Seattle Seahawks | Defensive Coordinator | 13-3-0 | 3-0 |
| 2010 Seattle Seahawks | Defensive Line Coach | 7-9-0 | 1-1 |
| 2009 Seattle Seahawks | Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line Coach | 5-11-0 | 0-0 |
| 2008 New York Jets | Defensive Line Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 2007 New York Jets | Defensive Line Coach | 4-12-0 | 0-0 |
| 2006 Miami Dolphins | Defensive Line Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 2005 Miami Dolphins | Defensive Line Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 2004 San Francisco 49ers | Defensive Line Coach | 2-14-0 | 0-0 |
| 2003 San Francisco 49ers | Defensive Line Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2002 San Francisco 49ers | Defensive Quality Control Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 2001 San Francisco 49ers | Defensive Quality Control Coach | 12-4-0 | 0-1 |
| 2000 Hofstra Pride | Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach | 9-4-None | |
| 1999 Hofstra Pride | Defensive Line Coach | 11-2-None | |
| 1998 Hofstra Pride | Defensive Line Coach | 8-3-None | |
| 1997 Hofstra Pride | Defensive Line Coach | 9-3-None | |
| 1996 Hofstra Pride | Defensive Line Coach | 5-6-None |
Coach history guide
| Seasons with a championship win | Seasons with a conference championship |
Coach facts
- Years as head coach: 7
- Years as a coordinator: 5
- Championships won: 2013
- Conference Championships won: 2013, 2014, and 2016
- Fourth in total wins for the Atlanta Falcons.
- Fourth in winning percentage for the Atlanta Falcons.
- Most playoff wins in Atlanta Falcons history (3)
- Past teams coached for: Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers
- College Attended: Salisbury Sea Gulls
- Date of Birth: Friday, September 11, 1970 (54 years old), Morristown, New Jersey