In surprising fashion, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn took his name out of the running for head coach jobs on Thursday.
The highly-respected coach was considered an option for the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, among others, before those two teams filled their vacancies earlier in the day.
Quinn, 51, joined Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as candidates following what was a successful regular season for the organization.
Unfortunately, a premature playoff exit at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round concluded what was ultimately a disappointing season in Big D.
This led to some speculation that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy might get his walking papers after just two seasons. Since then, the Dallas brass has shown some level of support for McCarthy.
The question now becomes, how long of a leash does McCarthy have? It’s also now relevant to focus on Quinn’s return to the Cowboys and how it might impact the head coach’s future in Dallas.
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Dan Quinn could be man in waiting for the Dallas Cowboys
In reality, it’s all about the attractiveness of head-coach openings around the NFL. In the past, we’ve seen top-end candidates withdraw from contention to return to their current teams. At least in theory, the idea is to wait it out for better opportunities moving forward.
Once it became clear that the Broncos and Bears were doing in different directions, there’s a darn good chance that Quinn looked at what was remaining and decided staying in Dallas for one more season made the most sense.
Again, looking at it through a theoretical lens, Quinn could be reading the writig on the wall in Big D. That is to say, McCarthy’s status as a coach on the hot seat and his own presence as a potential heir-apparent to the head coach with these Cowboys.
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Logically, the Cowboys’ job remains the NFL’s version of a city upon the hill — one of the most sought-after jobs in professional sports. At the very least, it beats the heck out of the current iteration of the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars (whatever they are), among other openings right now.
The one fallacy here is Kellen Moore’s continued presence in Dallas. He’s long been seen as a potential head coach with the Cowboys and did nothing to eliminate that narrative en route to leading the NFL’s top-scoring offense this past regular season. Moore remains a candidate for the Miami Dolphins job, among others. Could Quinn be hedging his bets that Moore lands a head coach gig? It’s possible.
Dallas Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy clearly on the hot seat
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t the most difficult book to read. He usually speaks off the cusp when meeting with the media. That’s why it’s unsurprising he didn’t 100% commit to McCarthy following Dallas’ ugly loss to San Francisco in the Wild Card round.
“I don’t want to wait until we’re sitting here with no season left to address these things we’re doing or not doing,” Jones said. “And so all of that is in the mix here and a part of what I do. But that’s the way I do, as you know, the ultimate decision on these coaches or anywhere around here is what do I have to make? And, so, the guy that you got to be — you don’t got to be — the toughest on should be the one in the mirror. He’s the one that has the ultimate responsibility and consequently I get to operate at that guy’s timeline and that guy’s display of information.”
Absolutely no realistic translation of this quote could determine that Jones gave McCarthy his full-throated support.
In no way does this mean Dallas is working behind the scenes to both fire McCarthy and hire an immediate replacement.
Linked to former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, a lot came out of that when Payton shockingly announced his resignation earlier in the Week. Since, the Super Bowl-winning head man and former Cowboys assistant has pretty much ruled out a return to the NFL next season.
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Since taking over as the Cowboys’ owner back in 1989, Jones has done the unpredictable. How about firing Jimmy Johnson after consecutive Super Bowl titles? What about keeping the likes of Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett on too long as head coach?
This unpredictable nature of Mr. Jones also lends credence to the idea that something could be going on behind the scenes in Big D? Perhaps, promoting Quinn or Moore to the head coach spot while firing McCarthy. Jim Harbaugh, anyone?
This is all complicated by the fact that Jones has been seen in some circles as being too loyal to struggling coaches. The examples we laid out above relating to Phillips and Garrett adds another layer to this.
Either way we attempt to spin this, one thing stands above the rest. Quinn’s decision to return as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for one more season places into question McCarthy’s future in Texas. That’s clear.