The Washington Commanders' hiring of Dan Quinn last offseason was initially met with mixed reviews. Opinions couldn't be more different now.
Quinn brought a track record of success from his time with the Atlanta Falcons, who he led to a Super Bowl appearance, but many considered him damaged goods. Some fans (and respected analysts) believed Washington should have gone with someone younger, fresher, and more offensively minded.
A year later, after helping to improve the Commanders from 4-13 to 12-5 and an NFC Championship game appearance, Quinn silenced the doubters and then some. The improvements were drastic, which centered on leading the right way and implementing a culture shift that quickly became a revelation.
Dan Quinn highlighted the key factors behind Commanders' remarkable success in 2024
Quinn recently appeared on former Washington quarterback Alex Smith's Glue Guys Podcast, pulling back the curtain on the secrets behind his sensational Commanders' turnaround. He did not disappoint.
The former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator, who is known as a motivator first and a tactician second, cited the importance of being able to get his clubhouse to buy into his leadership — and the key to accomplishing that — is honesty.
If you're going to walk into a locker room, you better be authentic to you and how you talk and how you express yourself.Dan Quinn via SI
Quinn can come across as rather eccentric as a personality, perhaps best known for patrolling the sidelines in his trademark backward baseball cap and silver goatee. It gives off a bit of a Steve Buscemi "How do you do, fellow kids?" vibe from a distance. But to those who know him best, there's nothing phony or forced about him.
He is naturally hip, and the cool uncle energy Quinn provides is a force of positivity in the Commanders' locker room.
Furthermore, the Salisbury College alum understands the importance of keeping himself humble. Quinn puts this into practice by surrounding himself with a staff that is diverse in its philosophies.
I wanted to hire a staff of people that weren't exactly just like me when I came here to D.C., it wasn't all people that I knew. There were plenty of people that I wanted new lenses and new insights onto things.Dan Quinn via SI
Quinn's unique, yet effective, leadership has been exactly what the Commanders needed as a franchise to kickstart this new era. He has instilled an identity in Washington, something the team has lacked for the last two decades, if not more. He set a standard that his players are motivated to respond to.
The Ben Johnsons of the world can have their cute playbooks, but coaching is about building a winning culture above all else. That's where Quinn excels most greatly.
It's safe to say Washington got the right guy.
