Two prospective contenders for the Seahawks’ HC position have emerged

Since the Seahawks chose to part ways with longstanding head coach Pete Carroll, they have been the only team that has not scheduled interviews for contenders to replace him.

Current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has been suggested as a possible replacement for his old boss, and on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network gave us with a fresh name to keep an eye on in Seattle.

Quinn has been considered a head coaching candidate almost since he was fired as the Falcons’ head coach in 2020. Since Quinn arrived in Dallas, the Cowboys have had a regular top-10 scoring defense that has improved year after year. The squad finished in the top five in both categories this year.

Quinn interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Cardinals, Broncos, Texans, and Colts last year, and even returned for second interviews in Arizona and Indianapolis before electing to stay in Dallas as a coordinator. Quinn had interviews with the Bears, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings, and Giants the previous year. He conducted a second interview in Chicago and was considered a finalist for the Denver position, but he ultimately chose to stay with the Cowboys, even turning down an interview with the Jaguars.

Quinn’s relationship to the Seahawks stems from two separate spells with the franchise. After stints as a defensive line coach with the 49ers, Dolphins, and Jets, Quinn accepted the same position as an assistant head coach with the Seahawks. He was the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida for two years before leaving. Quinn returned to the NFL and to Seattle as an NFL defensive coordinator after two more years.

The Seahawks won back-to-back Super Bowls (and were one offensive play away from doing it again) because to Quinn’s defense, which finished first in the league in both points allowed and yards allowed. Quinn’s defense led both categories by a considerable margin in both years. His accomplishment teaching the legendary Legion of Doom landed him his first head coaching job in Atlanta. Despite the Falcons’ overall winning record of 43-42, which includes a Super Bowl trip, Quinn was fired after two straight 7-9 seasons and a 0-5 start to the 2020 season.

Rapoport’s other name has a slightly different backstory. Mike Macdonald, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, has significantly less NFL coaching experience. Macdonald began as a coaching intern in Baltimore in 2014, progressing to defensive assistant before coaching defensive backs in 2017 and linebackers from 2018 to 20. Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh’s younger brother, snatched Macdonald away for a season to serve as defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan before calling Macdonald back to the NFL for the same post in Baltimore.

Under Macdonald, the Ravens have finished third and first in points allowed in the last two years, and have improved from 11th to sixth in yards allowed this year. Despite the presence of a star outside pass rusher, Macdonald’s Ravens have regularly been one of the league’s most successful teams when it comes to quarterback pressure, because to novel blitzing tactics and disguises. This year, Baltimore added a league-high 31 turnovers to its resume.

Despite Quinn’s apparent seniority over Macdonald, both coordinators have garnered significant interest as head coaching prospects thus far. Quinn now has interview requests from the Panthers, Chargers, Titans, and Commanders, while Macdonald has interviews with the Panthers, Falcons, and Titans, as well as inquiries from the Titans and Commanders. Both coordinators are currently in the playoffs and can only conduct virtual interviews at this moment, but anticipate both coaches to act on the stated interest once the playoffs are over.