The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a deal in principle for Dan Quinn to become their new defensive coordinator, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday. It's a three-year deal for Quinn, Rapoport reports.
The Cowboys later announced they had agreed to terms with Quinn.
Quinn was fired in the 2020 season as Atlanta Falcons head coach and will replace Mike Nolan, who was recently let go from the Cowboys as their DC.
Earlier on Monday, Rapoport reported Quinn was on a flight to Dallas to meet with Cowboys brass and the meeting clearly went well as Quinn will join head coach Mike McCarthy's staff. The in-person meeting followed Dallas spending several hours on Zoom with Quinn.
In the past, if owner Jerry Jones has honed in on a target, he lands him and that proved to be the case once again.
Quinn, 50, was fired by the Falcons five games into the 2020 season with an 0-5 record. In five-plus seasons in Atlanta, Quinn posted a 43-42 record, including a Super Bowl trip in 2016.
Prior to being the Falcons' head coach, Quinn succeeded Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator in Seattle, taking over the Legion of Boom in its prime. In two years as defensive coordinator for the Seahawks, Quinn's defense ranked No. 1 in yards and points allowed both seasons.
Quinn's defenses in Atlanta, however, did not follow suit. In the last two years, the Falcons actually improved on defense when Raheem Morris took control.
After a horrible season under Nolan resulted in his firing, the Cowboys made a quick decision on who they want to take them in a new direction.