How Dan Quinn’s coaching path led him to the Falcons

Many of us Falcoholics were stoked when the Atlanta Falcons hired Dan Quinn to be the team’s head coach, even though we had to wait (im)patiently for him to become available. We knew of his success as the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks’ vaunted unit, coaching them in back-to-back Super Bowls. We hoped he could revitalize the Falcon’s anemic defense and make the team contenders once again. But we didn’t dare imagine that Coach Quinn would lead the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl in his second year as head coach. Talk about #Quinning.

Tim Rohan of the MMQB has written a fantastic profile of Coach Quinn and his path to becoming an NFL head coach.

Like many in the coaching line, Dan Quinn started at the bottom, working 60-hour weeks and doing the dirty work. Even at his first stint, he showed the traits—no-nonsense grinder, quick learner, good communicator---that would eventually take him and the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

This is a great look at where Quinn got his start, and how the team, teaching style, and culture he has built is a culmination of over 20 years of dedication to coaching football. And yet, this feels like it's just the beginning.