Dan Quinn spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys before he was named head coach of the Washington Commanders on Thursday.
Quinn was hired as Dallas’ defensive coordinator in 2021, the same year the Cowboys drafted Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons at No. 12 overall. Parsons quickly developed as one of the NFL’s best defensive players, and the Cowboys finished as a top-five defense in each of Quinn’s three seasons.
As the Cowboys prepared for the wild-card game against the Packers last month, Parsons was asked about Quinn’s future, knowing he was set to interview with multiple teams for their head coaching vacancies.
“Dan’s my guy,” Parsons said via NFL.com. “And if he do leave me, it’s always love. He might take me with him, you never know.”
Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson — Washington’s 2022 first-round pick, also from Penn State — remembered his former college teammate’s quote last month and reminded him on Twitter after Quinn’s hiring.
Dotson jokingly recruited Parsons to Washington.
We welcome you with open arms brotha
@MicahhParsons11 pic.twitter.com/rHorrD0r14
— Jahan Dotson (@JahanDotson) February 1, 2024
No one should take this seriously. Parsons is under contract, and Dallas would never let him leave — especially to go to Washington. This was a case of one friend having some fun with his former teammate.
Washington fans certainly wouldn’t mind Parsons in the burgundy and gold.