FRISCO, Texas — For the second straight year, Dan Quinn has decided to give up potential head coaching jobs to remain as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.
Quinn has been interviewing the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts in recent weeks.
“Unfinished business here in Dallas. My whole focus is on helping the team play championship ball in 2023,” Quinn told ESPN’s Ed Werder.
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During his season-ending press conference, coach Mike McCarthy hinted at a possible return, saying, “I’m feeling good where we are,” but “We’re going to give Dan his proper time.”
Not long after the session ended, McCarthy confirmed Quinn’s decision to stay.
“We’re all very excited to have Dan back,” McCarthy said. “I recently had the opportunity to visit him. This is great for us. It gives us continuity, definitely taking what we’ve achieved over the past two years and building on that. Honestly, personally, I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
The Cowboys became the first team to lead the NFL in consecutive years in takeaways since the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972-74. The Cowboys ranked fifth in points allowed per game and 12th in yards. Micah Parsons is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year and was named a first-team All-Pro for the second straight year. Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs have all been named to the Pro Bowl.
“I think there are a number of reasons,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s employees. I think they are players. I think he was a head coach, he understands at this point in his life how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. So I think all of these things contribute to that. I think Dan is clearly capable of being selective and I’m really happy with the decision.”
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore interviewed this week with the Carolina Panthers, who ultimately hired Frank Reich. McCarthy said he has yet to have a full meeting with Moore about the offense and the future. The Cowboys ranked fourth in points per game and eleventh in yards in 2022, despite missing quarterback Dak Prescott for five games due to a broken thumb.
However, the season ended in a 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs, which has raised questions regarding Moore remaining under contract.
“I really don’t want to play this game,” McCarthy said. “Kellen Moore, like the rest of the coaches, is evaluated. Every coach is evaluated. The evaluation takes more than a day.”
On Thursday, McCarthy confirmed that assistant head coach Rob Davis, senior defense assistant George Edwards, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, running backs coach Skip Peete, assistant defense line coach Leon Lett and quality control coach Kyle Valero will not be returning.
“It’s that time of year when you evaluate everything,” McCarthy said. “The longer I do this, the more difficult it becomes. There is a personal component. Obviously you’re talking about some relationships that I’ve been involved in for a long time. This part is probably the most difficult part for me.”
McCarthy’s immediate future is not in question. He is under contract until 2024. The Cowboys won 12 straight games for the first time since 1994-95 and he became the first Cowboys coach to lead the team to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since Chan Gailey in 1998-99.
Despite the success, McCarthy’s job status has been called into question several times over the past two years, although it hasn’t been a problem for owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
“As for my relationship with Jerry, just using his words, we’re in an excellent place,” McCarthy said. “The partnership we have makes him happy. He’s told me several times this week that he wants me to train here as long as Coach (Tom) Landry (29 years old). I said, ‘OK, that’s a long time.'”