Dan Quinn's relationship-building with his players is what makes him such a respected head coach. The Washington Commanders benefited greatly from his presence in 2024, with everyone buying into his phenomenal culture shift en route to the NFC Championship game at the first time of asking.
There was arguably nobody who gained more than Frankie Luvu. Something which brought envious glances from one of Washington's bitter rivals, who also thrived under Quinn's guidance.
Luvu took the league by storm en route to second-team All-Pro honors. His decision to link up with Quinn, knowing what his scheme could potentially bring, was shrewd. And the Commanders finally had a dominant linebacking tandem to call upon with the former undrafted free agent out of Washington State and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner.
Micah Parsons misses Dan Quinn, and the Commanders are benefiting in more ways than one
This didn't go unnoticed by those around the league. Luvu ranked No. 70 in the NFL Network's annual top 100 list. And in the montage highlighting the player's attributes, Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons made it abundantly clear how much he misses being deployed in Quinn's defensive concepts.
"He [Frankie Luvu] definitely jumped up. It's no surprise. That Dan Quinn system. I miss them days being off the ball, and you get them one-on-ones on the back. He won those matchups, though."Micah Parsona via NFL Network
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Commanders LB Frankie Luvu makes his debut at No. 70! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/dTIQx82zaQ
— NFL (@NFL) July 21, 2025
Parsons will shine in whatever system you put him in. He's an elite-level performer, although the Cowboys are refusing to pay him like one right now. But there was something special in his connection with Quinn, and things haven't been the same in Dallas for the Penn State product since.
Dallas' loss was the Commanders' gain; there is no doubt about that whatsoever. He instantly rejuvenated the locker room, installing cohesion and a strong will that was absent throughout Ron Rivera's four years at the helm. There was trust in the players, and the right balance was found between stern words and an arm around the shoulder.
The Commanders saw something in Luvu. He was an ascending second-level enforcer during his three years with the Carolina Panthers. Quinn's creative system played to his strengths and provided the spark that propelled him into a completely different stratosphere.
Parsons is looking on with a sense of what might have been, especially considering the Commanders firmly surpassed the Cowboys within the division last season. If Quinn and Luvu build on their flourishing relationship, expect this trend to continue in 2025 and way into the future.