The Dallas Cowboys are set to officially begin their search for a new defensive coordinator, with Dan Quinn accepting the head coaching job with the Washington Commanders on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
94WIP Midday Show host Joe Giglio reacted to the breaking news in real time on Thursday, saying it is a "great" thing for the Eagles.
"I think it's great for the Eagles," Giglio said. "Decent coach. I thought the Commanders were like a sleeping giant. I didn't want them to get Ben Johnson...they struck me as a team who can make a quick turnaround if they hired a big time coach. He's not a big time coach...That could have been Belichick, that could have been Ben Johnson. I think it's a good day for the Eagles. The Commanders stay the Commanders."
During his time with Dallas, Quinn helped turn the Cowboys defense into one of the best in the NFL, playing a major role in the team's 12-5 record in each of the last three seasons. During his three years in Dallas, Quinn helped turn the Cowboys' defense into one of the best in the NFL, playing a major role in the team's 12-5 record in each of the last three seasons. He also was the architect of Seattle's famed Legion of Boom defense, serving two stints as a Seahawks assistant, as AHC/defensive line coach in 2009-10 and defensive coordinator in 2013-14 - years in which Seattle went to two Super Bowls and won one.
Quinn was quickly a subject of interest at the beginning of the offseason, with the Tennessee Titans, L.A. Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders all requesting interviews with him early in the process.
However, after the Titans, Seahawks, Chargers and Panthers jobs were filled, only the Commanders stood in the Cowboys' way of getting Quinn to return as their defensive coordinator.
Quinn will now head from one NFC East rival to another, replacing Ron Rivera and ending a search that lasted 24 days following Rivera's Jan. 8 firing, and saw many upset that the Commanders were both the last team to fill their vacancy and seemingly lost out on Ben Johnson (staying in Detroit) and Ravens DC Mike Macdonald (hired by Seattle Wednesday).
Rivera - who has been known as one of the better defensive minds in the NFL himself - has been linked as a potential replacement for Quinn as the next Cowboys defensive coordinator by NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys' assistant coach Joe Whitt Jr. is the "in-house favorite" to take over for Quinn.