Philadelphia Eagles: Dan Quinn is the ideal replacement for Jim Schwartz

Dan Quinn should be at the top of the Philadelphia Eagles’ DC list.

Welp, after five long years of rushing four, playing practice squad linebackers, and using the ‘sticks’ defense on any third-down longer than a few inches, the Philadelphia Eagles are set to enter the post-Jim Schwartz-era, as the 54-year-old will officially be stepping away from football in 2021 to contemplate retirement.

This is… well, this is surprising.

In theory, there’s a chance the Eagles would have fired Schwartz at the end of the season. His defense has consistently regressed from its Super Bowl form in 2017, and his ‘play-calling quirks’ have become nearly as maddening as his offensive counterpart, Doug Pederson.

More from Section 215

• 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
• Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
• 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
• Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
• Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles

Still, to announce his decision now, right before his ‘no-hat rule‘ game against Washington, is unusual – especially with the team’s entire 2021 situation up in the air. While it seems like a borderline impossibility to imagine the Birds elevating Schwartz to head coach over Pederson – though he has been linked to many a job over the past half-decade – it’s entirely possible he could have been back in 2021 – maybe even with a collection of exciting new players to fill out a defense in serious need of an infusion of young, ascending talent.

But that’s neither here nor there. While we may never know why Schwartz stepped away – though, based on his outspoken-ness, I have a feeling that may leak out sooner than later – we can muse on who should replace him moving forward.

To me, the perfect man for the job is none other than ex-Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator/Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn.

In theory, 2021 Quinn is a lot like Schwartz in 2016. A coaching lifer, Quinn has been at it since 1994 as a defensive line coach for William & Mary before becoming a household name two decades later as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks during their Super Bowl runs in 2013 and 2014. Since then, Quinn coached 85 games in Atlanta – five more than Schwartz in Detroit – and took a very good Falcons squad to the Super Bowl in 2016.

Granted, the Falcons have taken a pretty sharp nosedive over the past few years, losing the same number of games through the first five games of the 2020 season as the 2016 season before Quinn was relieved of his duties, but hey, that’s football, baby. No one stays at the top forever, unless, of course, your name rhymes with Will Welichick.

Quinn also just so happens to be a native of Orange, New Jersey, which doesn’t necessarily guarantee a Philly fandom growing up but at least signifies a familiarity with the area. After a tumultuous end to his coaching career in Atlanta, it might be nice to return home to play in front of his friends and family – that is, if such a thing is even allowed in 2021.

Now I know what you’re thinking. This is all well and good, but what does Quinn’s scheme look like? Does he know how to blitz? Does he play safeties that look like Jalen Mills or Brian Dawkins?

Well, I’m glad you asked.

Though his Falcons scheme wasn’t an exact carbon copy, Quinn is best known for running the Seattle Seahawks’ 4-3 scheme with a Cover 3 look on the back end (read an incredibly detailed breakdown of the look here and here). While the Eagles don’t have the exact personnel needed to run the look effectively right now, as they’d need a true box safety, an Earl Thomas-like playmaker on the back end, and an elite linebacker to fill the Bobby Wagner role, that can easily be remedied. Micah Parsons should be available in the top-5 of the 2021 NFL Draft – even if Howie Roseman would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to make the pick – the Falcons’ answer to Kam Chancellor, Keanu Neal, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and between you and me, Jevon Holland could be an absolute steal as a ballhawk at the top of the second round.

Heck, actual Earl Thomas is still a free agent. Though, after watching how things broke down with the future Hall of Famer in Baltimore, I highly doubt the Eagles would be running to secure his services.

And for what it’s worth, Quinn appears to be a fan of Eagles’ defensive talent too, as he said this about Fletcher Cox before Week 2 of the 2019 NFL season (as per our friends at The Inquirer), “Fletcher’s been a guy, man, we’ve really admired his style and attitude and how he plays,” Quinn said on a teleconference Wednesday. “Inside, when you have a guy who has the kind of quickness that he does, that’s when it becomes difficult matchups, whether it’s against a center or a guard. And then when you combine that with the power [he has], that’s what gives him uniqueness.”

Do you think Quinn, a defensive line coach by trade, would like to actually get down and dirty with a player of Cox’s caliber? Yeah, I kinda think he would.

With Doug Pederson reportedly expected to return in 2021, hiring an experienced defensive coordinator is the best chance for the Philadelphia Eagles to add a fresh, respected voice -not to mention some much-need parody – to their locker room. While Dan Quinn clearly outwore his welcome in Atlanta, as his 2020 squad was a brutal watch by any measurable metric, he still has what it takes to be a quality defensive coordinator and become the next Jim Schwartz with the current one heading out the door. His addition would force the team to reevaluate their personnel, acquire talent they’ve shunned away from over the past few years, and just generally get tougher. As a New Jersey guy, a local guy, I have a feeling Quinn knows a thing or two about being gritty.