ASHBURN, Va. — The Commanders formally introduced Dan Quinn as their newest head coach Monday after a long hiring process that included plenty of twists and turns.
Quinn, 53, and the Commanders reached a verbal agreement Thursday, and the team formally announced the hiring Saturday. The Commanders were the last of the eight teams to fill their head-coaching vacancy this offseason but proceeded quickly thereafter, with Kliff Kingsbury hired as offensive coordinator and Joe Whitt Jr. hired as defensive coordinator on Sunday.
Owner Josh Harris and general manager Adam Peters — also hired this offseason — were on hand Monday alongside Quinn. Here were the key takeaways as Washington enters a new era:
1. ‘If I get another shot’ … and why this one is ‘different’
Quinn said he tries to live his life by five words: “Be where your feet are.” But he also admitted there had been another five-word phrase in his mind: “If I get another shot.”
That sort of uncertainty gave way to unbridled excitement when he got the call from Peters, and the enthusiasm was on display throughout the hour-long press conference.
“As a coach, you prepare for it, you study for it, and there’s some lessons that you can’t study for, there’s lessons that you just have to live — sometimes through success and sometimes also through adversity — but once you learn those lessons, all you want to do is grab them and run and prove it. So let me tell you, I am ready to run and prove it, run like hell.
“There is nothing I enjoy more than doing hard shit with good people. And these guys here, there’s some really good people and I cannot wait to get it rocking here.”
Quinn made it clear this had to be a fit for him, not just vice versa. He interviewed with five teams — the Chargers, Panthers, Seahawks, Titans and Commanders — this year. He interviewed with three — the Broncos, Cardinals and Colts — last year. But…
..
