Commanders hire Dan Quinn: A shrewd power move or settling for second?

The Washington Commanders have reportedly made Dan Quinn their next head coach. Is it a shrewd power move or settling for second best?

After a painstaking wait, the Washington Commanders have their new head coach. Multiple reports suggest Dan Quinn is the man chosen by Josh Harris' hiring committee to take the franchise forward. A move that's received a mixed reaction among the fanbase judging by the early lay of the land on social media.

General manager Adam Peters laid out his intentions to find a bonafide leader of men to join his aligned vision for sustained growth. Quinn certainly ticks those boxes. He's got head coaching experience with some success attached despite things turning sour with the Atlanta Falcons. He's drawn nothing but praise for galvanizing his career with the Dallas Cowboys - this year's playoff capitulation aside, of course.

Commanders are giving Dan Quinn another shot

Quinn was expected to be one of the more coveted names in this year's cycle. He drew interest from several teams who eventually went in different directions. The Commanders were his last chance, but reports suggested he was always a leading contender for the job.

This might seem a little underwhelming. There should be an increased level of trust that the new regime knows what it's doing far better than previous ownership. But the question is simple…

Is this a shrewd power move by the Commanders, or have they settled for second best?

Let's examine the opening part first.

Quinn is a supreme leader and defensive strategist. The players hold him in the highest regard. He knows how to maximize the personnel available to him consistently. One cannot forget his NFC Conference championship triumph as Falcons head coach. Had it not been for a monumental Super Bowl collapse against the New England Patriots, there would also be a ring attached to his résumé.

The Commanders were impressed with Quinn enough to give him a second interview. But it's hard to ignore the mitigating circumstances involved regarding the appointment.

It's no secret that the Commanders' brass was extremely high on Ben Johnson. Many thought the hire was a foregone conclusion. Others weren't so sure, but sending their vaunted group to Detroit in their quest to convince the offensive coordinator to join their ambitious project represented a major statement of intent.

Then, Johnson informed them en route that he wouldn't be taking the meeting, opting for another year working under Dan Campbell in the hope of winning it all. This was a body blow and forced them to pivot. In the end, it led them to Quinn.

One could argue this is the Commanders settling for second best, especially after Mike Macdonald was quickly snapped up by the Seattle Seahawks. But as previously stated, those in power were higher on Quinn than most fans by all accounts.

Did Johnson's snub cause panic? Is Quinn the right guy? Will this lead to a shift in plans at the quarterback position? Time will tell. The important thing for Washington's long-suffering fanbase is getting behind the new power structure, putting personal preferences to one side, and hoping it's the start of a prosperous future for one of the NFL's most storied franchises.

The hard work starts now for Quinn and Peters. The moves made in the weeks and months ahead will lay the foundations. If this gamble pays off, nobody will be complaining about how the Commanders got to this point.