Atlanta Falcons Set To Announce Dan Quinn as Head Coach

It appears the wait is finally over for the Atlanta Falcons. According to sources close to the team, an announcement will be made Tuesday, ending the speculation over who the team’s new head coach will be.

Dan Quinn, the current defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks will become the new front man of an organization that needs a defensive overhaul and a new identity. The Falcons could not officially name Quinn as head coach until the Seahawks had completed their playoff run. Win lose or draw, Quinn will trade in his Seattle blue for Atlanta red and black.

Profootballtalk.com broke the story on Sunday that the team will finally introduce Quinn, who had interviewed with the Falcons shortly after the team fired Mike Smith following a 6-10 season.

Quinn, 44, succeeded Gus Bradley in 2013 when Bradley left the team to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He came from the University of Florida, where he’d spent two seasons after two with the Seahawks.

The Salisbury State graduate began his coaching career in 1994, at William & Mary. He spent seven years at the college level before joining the 49ers in 2001. Four seasons in San Francisco were followed by two with the Dolphins (the Nick Saban years) and two with the Jets, under former head coach Eric Mangini.

Atlanta had one of the worst defenses in the NFL the past two seasons even though Smith was hired as a defensive coach and one of the most respected players-coaches in the league.

Injuries and poor play led to Atlanta winning just 10 games the previous two seasons after playing in the NFC Title game in 2012.

League rules prevent the Falcons from offering the job to Quinn until his current team’s season ends. It became clear in recent weeks that the Falcons were waiting for Quinn. The first tangible evidence came when the Falcons hired offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan before hiring their head coach.

The team has since hired Raheem Morris to become assistant head coach and defensive backs coach and Denver Broncos linebackers coach Richard Smith as their defensive coordinator.

There were six head coaching vacancies in the NFL this year, the last being John Fox, who parted ways with the Broncos. Quinn becomes the final coach to be hired. Five of the six teams that replaced their head coach hired a defensive-minded replacement. Only Denver, who hired Gary Kubiak, hired someone from the offensive side of the ball.