'Our Last Ride!' Micah Parsons Promises To Win for Quinn in Playoffs, Knows Cowboys Coach Likely Leaving
Through the plethora of coaching rumors that have emerged throughout the week, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn may be the single most popular candidate on the market.
Quinn, who previously led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl 51 appearance as their head coach, has turned the Cowboys' defense into a ferocious unit. In Quinn's three years in charge, his defense has never ranked lower than seventh in points allowed. This year may feature his best work yet, as Dallas finished the regular season ranked fifth in both yards and points allowed.
While Quinn is a very hot commodity in the coaching carousel, his players understandably don't want to see him leave. Linebacker Micah Parsons, the face of the Cowboys' defense, shared just how much he appreciates his coach on Thursday - and suggests that he wants to give him the parting gift of playoff success.
"It's the nature of the business," Parsons said of Quinn being lured away. "It could possibly be my last ride with Q, and if it is, we're gonna make sure it's a damn good one."
Micah Parsons, Dan Quinn
"That's like my OG, for real," Parsons told reporters. "He means a lot to me, not only because it's just about football. We were talking today…and I said, 'You're just such a great mentor.' I think he does a great job of finding ways for you to love the game and finding ways to go around the game."
Parsons, who arrived the same year as Quinn in 2021, has blossomed into one of the best pass-rushers in the league under the coach's guidance. The Penn State product has 40.5 sacks through his first three NFL seasons, putting him among some of the game's greats for most sacks to start his career.
Quinn's coaching style, which Parsons described as being more friendly than other coaches, has no doubt allowed him to have the success he's had.
"It doesn't always have to be hard-nosed, 'I'm the coach,'" Parsons said. "It's more of a friendship. We go through what I don't like, what I do like. He doesn't just treat me like a player, he treats me like a friend. He's always there when I need him and we're not afraid to have those hard conversations whether it's father to son or player to coach."
At the very least, the Cowboys have Quinn until their playoff run comes to an end. If this is the end of Quinn's time in Dallas, Parsons will do everything in his power to send his coach out on a high note.
