Dan Quinn knows that being an NFL head coach is not an opportunity anyone should take for granted. There are only 32 spots available, and there isn't a guarantee that anyone will get more than one shot at it.
So, when things did come apart in 2020 with the Atlanta Falcons, when the team lost its first five games, Quinn reached far and wide for input on what went wrong as well as some advice in case he got the rare second crack at leading a roster.
"There's some lessons that you want to take from there," Quinn said. "Because if you don't, then going through it wasn't worth it."
Not long after he was relieved of his duties as the Falcons' head coach, Quinn went on an information-gathering mission, talking to several players from 2013 to 2020 to learn more about what he could have done differently. Some tried to deliver softer blows at first, but Quinn wasn't interested in that. He didn't want any bias, nor did he care who said it. He wanted to hear it all, and the guidance he received during those conversations helped shape the coach that is prepared to lead the Washington Commanders.
"The silver lining of having a couple months in between leaving Atlanta and going to Dallas was, how could I make this time productive to see what needed to change?" the new head coach said.
Quinn is familiar with how important change is in the NFL. "It almost feels like every two years, there's new, innovative ideas and new things to come," he said, and what was clear to him was that whatever he did in his final three seasons with the Falcons wasn't working well enough. His tenure started about as well as one could hope; an 8-8 season was followed by a trip to the Super Bowl and a second straight postseason appearance the following year.
After that, however, things began to sour. The Falcons went 7-9 in 2018 and 2019, and after Quinn was let go, they finished the 2020 season 5-12.
Quinn didn't want to make the same mistake twice if he got another chance to be a head coach.
"By reaching out to people, I wanted to find out the good and the bad," Quinn said. "Were there any blind spots? ... I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to miss this moment if it came again. That's why I reach out and dug in as hard as I could."
The biggest thing he learned was that he was spreading himself too thin in Atlanta.
Quinn considers himself a problem solver. He likes to help others and does what he can to fix situations. The list of projects can become too long at some point, though, and it can lessen his effectiveness. The solution for Quinn is to "keep this thing really tight."
"Make sure you keep the main thing, the main thing," Quinn said when asked about common themes from his conversations with players. "Your number one job here is to help develop the staff and the players and go kick ass."
Check out photos of new Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn at his previous stops with the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. (Photos via The Associated Press)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn watches warm ups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles, 33-13. (James D. Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn sits on the sidelines before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (14) talks with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (center) walks away from the defensive huddle during an NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is shown during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hugs Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn during an NFL regular season football game on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 in Seattle. The Falcons won, 34-31. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coodinator Dan Quinn (with radio) calls a play during an NFL football training camp Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn cheers his team during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Cowboys, 22-20. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys coach Dan Quinn poses for a photo prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Tx. The Packers won 48-32. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Dallas Cowboys coach Dan Quinn looks on from the field prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Tx. The Packers won 48-32. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in Landover, Md. The Cowboys defeated the Commanders, 38-10. (James D. Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn walks the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn walks onto the field prior to an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, January 7, 2024, in Landover, Md. Dallas won 38-10. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn works with his defensive linemen during the first day of an NFL training camp football practice Thursday, July 27, 2017, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Tampa, Fla. ( Tom DiPace via AP)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, speaks with Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn before the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn watches the team warm up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (right) moves safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) into position during an NFL football practice at the Cowboys' training facility, Thursday, June 1, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn looks on during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn works with his defensive line during an NFL minicamp football practice Wednesday, June 14, 2017, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coodinator Dan Quinn (with radio) calls a play during an NFL football training camp Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn speaks to his players after the team's rookie camp football practice Saturday, May 12, 2018, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. ( Tom DiPace via AP)
Dallas Cowboys head coach Dan Quinn (left) talks with NFL referee Brad Rogers (right) during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in New Orleans. The Cowboys defeated the Saints, 27-17. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (center) talks as the team practiced in pads for the first time during an NFL football training camp Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn checks the scoreboard in the fourth quarter during the NFL football Super Bowl LI game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The New England Patriots won 34 - 28 in overtime. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn works with his defensive linemen during the team's NFL training camp football practice Friday, July 28, 2017, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn cheers his team during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (center) watches defensive ends Villami Fehoko (93) and Durrell Johnson (51) during an NFL football training camp Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2015, file photo, Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn watches play against the Indianapolis Colts during an NFL football game in Atlanta. The Falcons have the 17th pick in the first round in next week's NFL draft in Chicago. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn speaks with Indianapolis Colts free safety Winston Guy (27) before the first of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn walks on the field during the team's NFL football training camp Thursday, July 28, 2016, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn watches after the play against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game, Thursday, Dec. 02, 2021, in New Orleans. The Cowboys beat the Saints 27-17. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn runs with his players during their NFL training camp football practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, in Flowery Branch, Ga.(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn speaks to his team after the Washington Redskins intercepted the ball during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn speaks to players during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn runs with his players during the team's NFL training camp football practice Friday, July 28, 2017, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn watches Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) walk to the bench against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Atlanta won 30-26. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is shown during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle John Ridgeway (95) works in a drill with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (right) during an NFL football training camp practice Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Oxnard, Calif. (James D. Smith via AP)
In this Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017 file photo, Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn gives instruction to his players during the team's NFL training camp football practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. Coach Dan Quinn's focus for the Atlanta Falcons' final preseason game against Jacksonville on Thursday night, Aug. 31, 2017 will be making final roster evaluations with cuts coming on Saturday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) talks with head coach Dan Quinn, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn takes a photo with a fan before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (right) demonstrates a drill during an NFL football rookie mini camp Friday, May 13, 2022 in Frisco, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn walks the sidelines against the Washington Redskins during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn runs to a drill during an NFL football training camp Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, center, congratulates nose tackle Jonathan Babineaux (95) after a play against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn walks as his players stretch during an NFL football training camp practice Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Flowery Branch , Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn talks with quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn uses a radio to call in a defensive play during an NFL football training camp practice Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 in Frisco, Texas. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn watches during an NFL football training camp practice Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Oxnard, Calif. (James D. Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn yells during pregame warm-ups during the NFL Hall of Fame game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Canton, Ohio. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 14-10. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn walks the sidelines against the Washington Redskins during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn walks on stage for a news conference to introduce Quinn as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn talks to side judge Greg Meyer (78) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is seen prior to a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Tampa,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn directs play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Thursday Night NFL football game Nov. 3, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Falcons won 43 - 28. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn wears a Doomsday Defense shirt as he talks during an NFL football training camp Friday, July 28, 2023 in Oxnard, Calif. (James D Smith via AP)
That was the most important lesson for Quinn on how to handle his off-field responsibilities as a head coach. On the field, Quinn knew that he needed to evolve as a play-caller. The Cover 3 system was great for the Seattle Seahawks, who boasted one of the best defenses in league history with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor leading the "Legion of Boom," but as Quinn put it, "what was good once wasn't as good anymore."
Quinn's time as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator from 2021-23 was a good chance for him to apply some of what he heard from his former players. He wanted to maintain his ability to connect to players -- he had multiple players give him "great" feedback on that -- but he also wanted to make sure he was trying some new things in a different, yet still important role.
It didn't take long for him to see results.
"I wanted to take the good and import that in the locker room and the leadership and the things we had to do," Quinn said.
Over the course of Quinn's first season, the Cowboys' defense went from one that gave up almost 30 points per game to a talented unit that shut teams out of the end zone and created new opportunities for its offense through turnovers. They led the league in takeaways in 2021 and 2022, and in 2023, they allowed the fifth fewest yards per game.
"I had time to reflect," Quinn said. "I had time to study, go through the lessons, some through success, some through adversity. But once you learn them, you want to grab them and run like hell."
Quinn's improvements helped earn him another chance at being a head coach with the Commanders. He knows how important the team has been to the fan base for years, and to be part of a franchise that is "really pushing it and going for it in the biggest way" is what he wants as a coach.
And of course, Quinn will bring some of what he did with Dallas to the Commanders, but it's not going to be a carbon copy, either.
"Where were you strong? Where do you need to change?" Quinn asked. "And then as you go into the next, what does that look like into the next season? Not all the ideas that you try during training camp in the offseason do you carry into the season, but some of them do."
"So, how do you work those specific things over and over and over, so when you do get there, they are game-ready? I've never been one to try something new in a game that you haven't really done. I'd rather practice it, go through it, know exactly the strengths and weaknesses, then you go let it attack."
Quinn's biggest priorities for the next few weeks will be filling out the staff, evaluating the roster and getting ready for free agency in the draft. When things begin to pick back up in August, we'll get a look at how much he's learned over the past three years.
"I've got these lessons, and now I'm ready to go apply them," Quinn said. "I've been waiting on that time to do it."
