DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Cowboys officially parted ways with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan on Friday afternoon, and now the question becomes - who replaces him?
One name has already surfaced, and that person is former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that sources have told him that Quinn is among the candidates who have been discussed internally.
Quinn is one of three names 105.3 The Fan's Jeff Cavanaugh mentioned on-air after Nolan's firing was announced. And Bryan Broaddus heard from multiple sources that Quinn would be a great hire.
"I did get a really favorable report on Dan Quinn, as far as a teacher, as far as a guy players all respect, (and) gravitate towards. So, if Quinn is one of the guys they talk to, I had three different guys tell me he'd be a really good hire," Bryan Broaddus said Friday on 105.3 The Fan.
The other two names Cavanaugh mentioned are George Edwards, the team's senior defensive assistant, and Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. You can hear his thoughts on all three coaches in the video above.
Bradley's future in Los Angeles is in limbo after the team parted with head coach Anthony Lynn this week. The former Jaguars head coach reportedly interviewed with the Raiders for their defensive coordinator vacancy on Friday, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
As for Quinn, he was fired by the Falcons after their Week 5 home loss to the Panthers.
Under his watch, the Falcons' lead-blowing ways became part of the team's identity, stemming from their 28-3 lead against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. In the first five weeks this season, Atlanta blew a 20-point lead (vs Dallas) and a 16-point lead.
Quinn's tenure in Atlanta ended with a 43-42 record in the regular season with postseason berths in 2016 and 2017. However, the Falcons didn't have a winning record since 2017.
Prior to his time in Atlanta, Quinn was the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks in 2013. His unit led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and takeaways that year.
As for Edwards, his name has been mentioned multiple times this season as a potential replacement for Nolan. Edwards was the Vikings defensive coordinator under Mike Zimmer from 2014-2019.