the Dallas Cowboys finally sign 2 year contract with 3-Time Super Bowl Champ as New Defensive Coordinator
Similar to Quinn, Vrabel is a former head coach trying to increase his marketability. There’s no bigger coordinator spotlight for an assistant than the one in Big D. Vrabel and former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley rank among the best candidates to take Vrabel’s place, according to DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker.
Walker wrote in an article titled “IMPACT: Fallout of Quinn joining Commanders” on February 1, 2024, “That said, names like Brandon Staley, Mike Vrabel, and Ron Rivera would enter the discussion, all of whom were dismissed as head coaches this offseason and who are in dire need of rebuilding their brand— precisely as Quinn was when he and the Falcons divorced under unpleasant circumstances three seasons ago.”
Although Vrabel is overqualified to be the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, there are no head coaching seats left in the NFL coaching carousel. The former linebacker for the New England Patriots and three-time Super Bowl champion is now the coach of the Titans. In addition, Vrabel was a former Pro Bowler and All-Pro.
His coaching background is equally impressive; prior to the Titans’ recent struggles, he guided the team to four consecutive winning seasons. One of Vrabel’s greatest achievements was guiding Tennessee to the 2019 AFC Championship.
In addition, Vrabel won Coach of the Year following the 2021 Titans 12-5 campaign. Vrabel’s only drawback is that Dallas might conduct a similar search a year after he accepts a new head coaching position.
“The Cowboys would have their defensive coordinator for 2024 and possibly their head coach for 2025 and beyond, if things don’t work out the following season, if they hire Vrabel,” Who will be the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys? was a February 1 story written by Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. Dan Quinn’s replacement has eight options.
Quinn may be replaced internally by one of the other defensive assistants by the Cowboys. Things get a little more complicated because Quinn is anticipated to move to Washington with a number of the Dallas coaches.
According to Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated, Joe Whitt, the assistant for the Cowboys, was once thought to be the front-runner to succeed Quinn. Whitt could now work alongside Quinn on the Commander’s staff. With Dallas scheduled to meet former Washington head coach Ron Rivera, there may be some coach switching in the NFC East.
Fisher stated in a February 1 story titled “Source: Cowboys Plan Ron Rivera ‘Visit’ to Replace Dan Quinn” that “And as of Thursday morning, there was an idea that could still work, with sources telling CowboysSI.com that Dallas assistant Joe Whitt Jr. is the ‘frontrunner’ to take over for Quinn.”
“However, NFL insiders now inform us that the Cowboys would also like to meet with Ron Rivera, the fired head coach of Washington who Quinn is replacing. One person with a close connection to the agreement tells us best how we should anticipate Whitt’s departure: “Quinn and Whitt are attached at the hip.”
