Cowboys' Plan for Dan Quinn Amid Uncertainty Revealed

Uncertainties surrounding the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff emerged as soon as the team suffered a shocking playoff exit over the weekend. Fans wondered if that was the last straw for head coach Mike McCarthy after yielding just one postseason victory over the last three seasons, but his status was clarified after the team announced he'd be back for the 2024 NFL season.

However, McCarthy's announced return didn't exactly reveal defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's future with the franchise. The two have been linked ever since they arrived in Dallas in 2021, but Quinn has become one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the league and already has several interviews lined up.

Fortunately, one NFL insider was able to share some light on the DC's future on Thursday.

Cowboys Rumors: Dan Quinn Expected to Return in 2024

ESPN's Ed Werder reports that Quinn is "expected" to return as McCarthy's DC for the 2024 campaign "should he not be hired as a head coach elsewhere."

Werder also adds that Quinn has already completed two of his five head coaching interviews. If Sports Illustrated's Mike Fisher is correct, the 53-year-old DC would've met with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans on Wednesday before his upcoming interviews with the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Seattle Seahawks.

Cowboys fans are used to dealing with Quinn being linked to head coaching openings after being named the 2021 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. Dallas has had one of the better defenses throughout his tenure, ranking seventh, sixth, and fifth in scoring defense over the last three seasons.

Unfortunately, the Cowboys' world-class defense was nowhere to be found on Wild Card Weekend. Despite fans and experts raving about how elite Dallas was on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys wound up falling 48-32 while surrendering 415 total yards on only 10 drives.

Who knows? Maybe it's time to find a new DC after a performance like that, whether Quinn leaves on his own accord or not.

At the end of the day, we'll likely have a better idea about his future after his interviews are finished. While Quinn has had nothing but good things to say about his time with the Cowboys and the players seem to love him, the allure of being a head coach for the first time since 2020 might be too much for the Morristown, NJ native to ignore one more time.

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