Feb. 2, 2026, 4:05 a.m. ET

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn was put in a tough spot, as the hiring of Raheem Morris illustrated again, on Sunday.

Morris was hired on Sunday by the San Francisco 49ers to be their new defensive coordinator. Morris had been the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach the past two seasons (2024-2025). However, he has performed better as a defensive coordinator, giving him leverage in this hiring cycle. He could afford to be picky, wait it out, or even choose to sit out a season and still be paid head coach money by the Falcons.

Understandably, that is just what Morris was doing… using his leverage. Dan Quinn isn’t inexperienced. Nor is he naive. Quinn knew exactly what was going on during this hiring cycle, and he certainly recognized it wasn’t going to be made any easier for him. The second-year Commanders head coach was in substantial need of a defensive coordinator. However, which of those candidates would want to come to Washington if they could find something better this offseason?

So Quinn interviewed (not in chronological order, because I don’t recall the order) Brian Flores and Jonathan Gannon, who had experience as NFL head coaches. He also wanted to interview Raheem Morris, who has been a head coach twice. Flores and Gannon were interviewed, but all knew they were going elsewhere if they were offered other jobs. Morris simply waited it out, not even interviewing with Washington.

Also interviewed by Quinn were Teryl Austin, Dennard Wilson, Joe Cullen, Patrick Graham, Al Harris, Karl Scott, and Daronte Jones. Did I overlook anyone? None of these had head coaching experience, and Wilson, Cullen, Graham, and Austin had been NFL defensive coordinators.

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We were told of the great friendship Dan Quinn had built with Morris. Yet, friendship or not, Morris is not starting out his career path, nor is he winding down his coaching career. So it is perfectly understandable he used whatever leverage he had earned in his career to take whichever better job he preferred over being a coordinator for the Commanders.

Dan Quinn is a big boy; he knew what he was up against. He is responsible and chose whom he feels can best grow into the best defensive coordinator he interviewed, and he thought that was Daronte Jones. No, Jones does not have the resume of Morris, Flores, or Gannon. But he is not inexperienced either. Jones has been coaching football for 25 seasons and is 47 years old. He is certainly nowhere close to being tired and thinking of retirement. He is also nowhere close to being a novice.

Meanwhile, isn’t it up to GM Adam Peters and his staff to get some better players on this defense to provide Jones some much needed help?