Capital Gain or Loss? Commanders Choose Cowboys' Quinn Over Bill Belichick
With the hiring of Dan Quinn as their new head coach, the Washington Commanders have not only filled the NFL’s final head coaching vacancy, but they also may have sealed the 2024 fate of sidelines legend.
While Quinn reportedly beat out Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as finalists for the position, one name conspicuous by its absence that of former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
After “mutually and amicably” agreeing to part ways with the Patriots in January, Belichick was either conveniently forgotten — or perhaps egregiously overlooked — in the recent running of the NFL coaching carousel.
Though Washington may not have been as closely linked to his services as teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, they reportedly did perform their due diligence on the 71-year-old throughout the past month.
“During the hiring process in Washington, Bill Belichick was considered for the job,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini revealed via social media. “The Commanders spoke with him and he had support from some decision makers. In the end, Dan Quinn is their choice.”
For nearly a quarter-century, New England’s former head coach has been one of the most successful at his position in this, or any sport. After all, few, if any, have ever enjoyed the level of success Belichick has while at the Patriots helm. Six Super Bowl championships, three AP Coach of the Year awards, and nine conference titles are just some of the accolades he has collected during his time on the sidelines.
Accordingly, Belichick’s eventual enshrinement in Canton became a mere formality long ago. Still, the sustained success with which he guided the Patriots over the past two-plus decades surprisingly did not warrant him a job for 2024.
Instead, the image of Belichick as a brilliant tactician, who maximized talent greater than any of his peers or predecessors has faded with the summer breeze off the coast of his beloved Nantucket home — replaced by that of a struggling coach both past his prime and indifferent to adapt with the league’s changing landscape.
Could that have swayed the Commanders’ sentiments?
Of course, Belichick is certainly not without blame for his current employment status. Following a 4-13 finish - Belichick’s worst season in New England - the 71-year-old’s future as Patriots coach and de facto general manager became precarious, at best. New England missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. Rumors of in-fighting within his coaching staff, as well as questionable in-game decision-making, nearly unraveled the Belichickian mystique before season’s end.
Additionally, the Patriots have finished last in the AFC East for the first time since Belichick’s first season as head coach in 2000. Their final effort in 2023 ended in a listless 17-3 loss to the New York Jets under snowy skies at Gillette Stadium in Week 18 — ultimately, costing Belichick his job. The Patriots officially hired former inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo as the 15th head coach in franchise history just one day after officially parting ways with Belichick.
In the final analysis, Belichick’s age, lack of success in New England post-Tom Brady, and his plans for organizational control may have marked too far outside the Commanders’ desires. As such, they move forward with Quinn, who ironically was on the receiving end of two Belichick Super Bowl victories with the Patriots — one as Seattle Seahawks’ defenisve coordinator in Super Bowl XLIX and the other as head coach of a Falcons’ team notoriously remembered for surrendering a 28-3 third-quarter lead.
The only question remaining is whether Washington will regret not hiring Bill Belichick when they had the chance.
