Morristown's Dan Quinn Won't Be A Head Coach Next Year, Stays With Cowboys

DALLAS — Dan Quinn, a Morristown High School alumnus, was one of the top names in the NFL head-coaching market this offseason. But the Cowboys defensive coordinator won't become a head coach — at least not this year.

Quinn will instead return to "American's Team" for his second year as their defensive coordinator, a move Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones called a "huge victory" for the franchise.

Jones hasn't delved into the specifics of Quinn's contract. But Jones told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan that he expects the Morris Township native to remain in the role "for years to come."

Quinn interviewed with five teams that had head-coaching vacancies, including one of his hometown teams — the Giants. After a successful first season revamping the Cowboys' defense, Quinn became the "hottest name in coaching" among candidates to fill the NFL's head-coaching vacancies, reported Sports Illustrated's Mike Fisher.

Under Quinn's leadership, the Cowboys finished the year with the NFL's seventh-best scoring defense, a season after surrendering a franchise record for points allowed.

Quinn served as Falcons head coach from 2015-20, finishing with a 43-42 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The Falcons fired Quinn after the team lost their first five games in the 2020 season.

With the Cowboys, Quinn also led the team for one game after head coach Mike McCarthy tested positive for COVID-19. The Cowboys beat the Saints, 27-17, in the Dec. 2 matchup.

Born in Morristown, Quinn grew up in Morris Township and graduated from Morristown High School in 1989. He became part of the football and track and field teams at Salisbury State University — now Salisbury University — in Maryland.

Quinn has coached football since 1994, with his first stint coming as William & Mary's defensive line coach. His first NFL coaching role came in 2001, when he became the 49ers' defensive quality control coach.

But he ultimately made a name for himself as an assistant during his second stint with the Seahawks. Quinn served as defensive coordinator during the emergence of the team's "Legion of Boom" era, when they won the Super Bowl for the 2013 season.

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