The Dallas Cowboys are on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator following the departure of Dan Quinn, who has taken on the role of head coach for the Washington Commanders. One potential candidate to fill the position is former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel, like Quinn, is a former head coach looking to rebuild his reputation. The opportunity to be a coordinator for the Cowboys is a big stage for any assistant coach. According to DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker, Vrabel and former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley are among the top contenders for the job.
Names like Brandon Staley, Mike Vrabel, and Ron Rivera have been thrown into the mix as potential replacements. All three coaches were let go as head coaches this past offseason and are eager to rebuild their careers. This situation mirrors Quinn’s when he parted ways with the Falcons three seasons ago, as Walker explained in his article titled “IMPACT: Fallout of Quinn joining Commanders” on February 1, 2024.
Vrabel, a former NFL linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, may be overqualified for the defensive coordinator position. However, with no head coaching vacancies available, he finds himself in the mix for this role. Vrabel also boasts an impressive coaching resume, leading the Titans to four consecutive winning seasons and a trip to the AFC Championship in 2019.
In 2021, Vrabel was recognized as Coach of the Year after guiding the Titans to a 12-5 record. However, one potential drawback is that if the Cowboys were to hire Vrabel, they might find themselves searching for a new defensive coordinator again in the near future if he lands another head coaching job.
The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf discussed this possibility in their February 1 article titled “Who will be the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator? 8 options to replace Dan Quinn.” They highlighted the potential scenario of Vrabel becoming the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for 2024 and potentially their head coach for 2025 and beyond, depending on how things unfold next season.
In addition to Vrabel, there have been reports that the Cowboys are also considering former Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera for the defensive coordinator position. It remains to be seen who the Cowboys will ultimately choose to fill this crucial role.
In a shocking turn of events, the Dallas Cowboys are facing the possibility of losing not only their defensive coordinator, but also some of their other defensive assistants. It seems that Dan Quinn, who recently joined the team, is set to make a move to Washington, and it appears that several of the Dallas coaches are planning to follow him.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Mike Fisher, Cowboys assistant Joe Whitt was once considered the top candidate to replace Quinn. However, it now seems that Whitt could be joining Quinn as part of the coaching staff for the Washington Commanders. This potential move could lead to a bit of a coaching shuffle in the NFC East, as Dallas is expected to meet with former Washington head coach Ron Rivera.
Sources have revealed that there is still a chance for Whitt to take over as Quinn’s replacement in Dallas. In fact, there are reports that he is currently the frontrunner for the position. However, it seems that the Cowboys are also interested in meeting with Rivera, the man Quinn is replacing in Washington. It is clear that the Cowboys are concerned about the possibility of losing Whitt, as one insider stated, “Quinn and Whitt are attached at the hip.”
Jonathan Adams, a sports reporter covering the NFL and NBA, has been closely following this developing story. Stay tuned for more updates on this potentially game-changing situation.
