NO BILL BELICHICK IN 2024 NFL
In a stunning turn of events, the Washington Commanders have hired Dan Quinn as their new head coach for the 2024 season. Quinn’s hiring marks the end of the hiring cycle for all eight teams in search of a new coach. What makes this hiring even more surprising is that it disregards sitting head coaches with impressive reputations and experience. As a result, it seems that Bill Belichick will be out of the NFL for the first time since 1975, unless he finds a job as an assistant or consultant elsewhere.
The shakeup continues as Mike Vrabel is also out of the NFL and may take a year off from coaching. Additionally, Pete Carroll is no longer with the NFL, although there is a possibility he may assist the Seahawks in some capacity after being fired. It’s an interesting and somewhat peculiar situation.
Unlike most of the other new head coaches hired this cycle, Quinn, 53, has previous experience as a head coach. Alongside Raheem Morris with the Falcons and Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, Quinn has been hired after having previous full seasons as an NFL head coach. Taking over the role that Ron Rivera lost when he was fired in January, Quinn inherits a position with a rich history. Previous coaches like Vince Lombardi, Joe Gibbs, George Allen, and Mike Shanahan have all led the Washington franchise.
Quinn’s task is clear – he needs to be as successful as those who came before him. The Commanders have been stuck in mediocrity for decades, with their last winning season dating back to 2016 when they were still known as the Redskins. In fact, the franchise has never had a winning season and hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1991. However, Quinn appears to be well-suited for the job, having spent the past three seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator and coaching the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2020.
Quinn’s most notable season with the Falcons was in 2016 when he led the team to Super Bowl LI. Unfortunately, their impressive lead of 28-3 was squandered, resulting in the largest comeback in Super Bowl history by the New England Patriots. This loss seemed to have a lasting impact on Quinn and the Falcons, as they struggled to regain their previous success. The team made the playoffs only once more under Quinn before his firing in 2020, and they frequently blew leads in the second half of games.
Prior to his time with the Falcons, Quinn gained recognition as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 2013 to 2014. He played a crucial role in the team’s “Legion of Boom” defense, which led them to consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Interestingly, both of those Super Bowls ended in defeat to none other than Belichick and the Patriots.
It’s ironic that Quinn’s previous experiences with the Falcons and the Seahawks have now brought him to the Commanders, a team that seemingly did not consider Belichick for their coaching position. As Quinn takes on this new challenge, all eyes will be on him to see if he can bring back the glory days for the Washington franchise.
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