Dallas Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons is a huge fan of Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn. Parsons expressed his sadness when the Commanders hired Quinn away from the Cowboys in the offseason but made it clear he would always root for his former coach.
In the first three seasons of his NFL career, with Quinn as his defensive coordinator, Parsons recorded 40.5 sacks, 51 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles. Their bond goes beyond the field, though, as Parsons considered Quinn a role model away from it.
The Commanders and Cowboys first met this season in Week 12, in a wild game where Parsons’ Cowboys upset Washington. Two weeks later, after Dallas had won two consecutive games, it lost a heartbreaker to the Cincinnati Bengals, falling to 5-8 and virtually ending any playoff hopes.
An upset Parsons left the field as time ran off the clock instead of greeting Cincinnati players as is customary across the NFL. Parsons was criticized but explained that it was due to his competitive spirit.
On the latest episode of his podcast, “The Edge,” Parsons said he received a call from Quinn, who was checking on him after such a tough loss.
“Talking to Dan, you know Dan’s our guy, Dan’s like an uncle to me, and he saw my comments about the podcast,” Parsons told teammate Trevon Diggs. “He called after the Bengals’ loss, actually, just checking on me and my mental space, just making sure I was OK.”
Then the talk turned to Quinn’s quarterback, rookie Jayden Daniels.
“I saw what your quarterback is capable of; I watched him in that Bears’ game, I watched him against us, his composure when it matters the most; he has it, I see it. Like, he’s fearless. He doesn’t shy from the moment.”
Diggs then weighs in on Daniels.
“He know(s) he’s nice,” Diggs said. “He know he the one. You need that confidence, especially in the NFL. If you know that you nice, know that you’re the one, can’t nobody stop you from doing anything you want to do. You’re gonna have your way.”
And for those Philadelphia fans complaining about injuries when Daniels carved them up for five touchdowns in a Washington win last week, Parsons was having none of it.
Parsons’ relationship with Quinn will continue to excite Washington fans about the possibility of him joining the Commanders when his contract is up. Don’t get too excited: Parsons isn’t going anywhere, especially to Washington.
It’s a different time when other players talk so glowingly of the Commanders’ quarterback.
You can see Parsons’ comments on Quinn and Daniels around the 12-minute mark of the latest episode of “The Edge.”