Cowboys Culture 'Unmatched': Dan Quinn Gets Raves from Vander Esch & Dallas D

“The culture and the vibe that he brings in the room every single day is unmatched,'' said linebacker Leighton Vander Esch of Dallas coordinator Dan Quinn. "His energy that he carries with him is contagious. It makes you want to be around him.''

FRISCO - "Culture'' is a favored buzz word in NFL circles, with every team's coach and every team's leaders proclaiming that they possess "it'' ... at least until those teams start losing, at which point "culture'' - along with two other buzz words, "character'' and "brotherhood'' are truly tested.

It is undeniable, though, that on the defensive side of the Dallas Cowboys locker room, there is an individual who sets the tone and who has the respect from players in a way that plows through obstacles.

“The culture and the vibe that he brings in the room every single day is unmatched,'' said linebacker Leighton Vander Esch of "that guy'' - Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. "His energy that he carries with him is contagious. It makes you want to be around him.''

What makes this version of "culture'' more than just a buzz word? This feeling from players toward "DQ'' is fairly universal. It's why, when Quinn was hired three years ago, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones told us one of the new coach's strengths would be in "recruiting,'' and that's come true. It's why head coach Mike McCarthy needn't "watch his back,'' even as Quinn is being touted as his eventual successor. It's why Micah Parsons has joked that if Quinn ever leaves Dallas, the "Lion-backer'' wants to go with him. It's why top assistant Joe Whitt Jr. tells us that Quinn is "the light'' that makes him excited to come to work every day here at The Star.

"He literally could have went and got a head coaching job pretty much anywhere that he wanted,'' Vander Esch said. "And the fact that he stayed here with us, it showed us how much he cared about us and this crew, and really what we can do.''

There is a bit of mythology there, but it is true enough that Quinn has in the last two seasons pulled his name out of the running for other NFL job openings, telling CowboysSI.com, "I have unfinished business here in Dallas.''

Nevertheless, even the mythology works in Quinn's favor. The players believe he believes in him. ... which he sincerely does. And it's a vibe that extends all the way down to the kids who just got taken by Dallas in the NFL Draft. After owner Jerry Jones and McCarthy passed the phone to Quinn, eavesdroppers could here in DQ's conversations with the prospects a legitimate connection.

Quinn knew the kids. The kids knew Quinn.

And of course, few know him better than Vander Esch, who recently told CowboysSI.com about how pleased he is to have the same coordinator in place for three straight years after some coaching "Musical Chairs'' in Dallas before that. And now, under Quinn's "culture''-setting leadership?

"We have another opportunity,'' Vander Esch said, "to get even better and go for that trophy. That’s our goal and there ain’t going to be nothing short of it.”

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