Dan Quinn To Leave Cowboys for Carolina Panthers Job? Experts Prediction

Cowboys Coach Dan Quinn To Leave Dallas for Carolina Panthers Job? Experts Prediction

FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has in the last couple of offseasons taken the ride on the Coaching Carousel, only to ultimately opt to dismount while staying at The Star.

"I love it here,'' he told CowboysSI.com a year ago. "And we have unfinished business here.''

Nevertheless, Quinn is quite naturally going to be on most of the lists for most of the head-coaching job vacancies in the NFL, and the plugged-in media duo of Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network are now attaching him to the vacancy with the Carolina Panthers.

"Owner David Tepper has been gathering information on a variety of candidates,'' they write. "Hiring an experienced coach such as Dan Quinn, who knows the division well from his Atlanta days, is a possibility ...''

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It is frankly too early in the process to know exactly what Tepper wants. Logically, the organization needs to nurture rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Does that mean an offensive-minded head coach?

Additionally, while NFL Network writes that "the culture of the building is in good shape'' (something we're not quite so convinced of), we know do that the culture in the fan base is in bad shape. Does that mean Tepper will want to hire someone "flashier'' than Quinn, who is innovative and a leader of men and has been a head coach in a Super Bowl but who also takes pride in his blue-collar approach to the job?

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And, while NFL Network paints a picture of a Carolina franchise that is "set up well'' - with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik all quite possible sharing that view - we know that there have been opportunities that Quinn turned down because he felt things are "set up'' better in Dallas with him as a highly-paid top assistant than they might be elsewhere with him in charge.

The Panthers' "due diligence'' and "extensive coaching search'' should include Quinn. The same is true of every team with an opening. ... maybe ultimately leaving it to Jerry Jones to once again work on keeping one of the best in the business "loving it'' at The Star.