With the recent appointment of former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn to take over for dismissed head coach Ron Rivera, the Washington Commanders have ushered in a new era. Did the Commanders simply replace Ron Rivera with a different Ron Rivera, or was this the correct course of action? The recent addition as Commanders GM, Adam Peters, made an intriguing move.
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This is Dan Quinn’s second opportunity to lead the NFL as a head coach. From 2015 until 2020, he served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl in his second season of coaching and famously jumped out to a 28-3 lead. Yes, I believe we understand what transpired there. The Falcons had a 0–5 start to the 2020 NFL season when Quinn was fired following Week 5.
He now gets his second chance with Washington following a few years as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. However, this acquisition reminds me uncannily of the Commanders’ hiring of Ron Rivera. From 2011 until 2019, Rivera served as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. The year before Quinn made it with the Falcons, Rivera led his club to the Super Bowl.
Like Quinn, Rivera’s team was defeated. The head coaching records of both coaches are roughly.500. In the regular season, Quinn has a.506 winning percentage while Rivera has a.498 winning %. Both men appear to be respected by their players despite having traditional defensive mindsets.
Did the Commanders surpass Ron Rivera in this regard? At this time, it seems difficult to say yes. Who Dan Quinn hires for his staff may be the most important consideration in this, particularly in regards to the positions of offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington is well-positioned to choose a quarterback, maybe UNC’s Drake Maye.
The Commanders would be foolish to pass up Maye since he possesses all the traits needed to succeed as a franchise quarterback in the NFL. However, it’s difficult to determine at this stage whether the Commanders’ new head coach is superior to their former one.
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