ORLANDO—Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, was recently taken by the Washington Commanders and elevated to the position of head coach. Now, one of Quinn’s former teammates, DaRon Bland, has shared his thoughts on Bland and the circumstances. In his final season as an NFL cornerback, Bland led the league with nine interceptions, five of which he ran back for touchdowns. This performance helped him earn a spot on the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro teams.
After taking a head coaching position with the Washington Commanders, a competitor of the Dallas Cowboys, DaRon Bland, a former student of Dan Quinn’s, opened up about his emotions toward the coach. Bland talked well of Quinn even after he was lost to a Washington division opponent, speaking to Commander Country in Orlando at an NFL Pro Bowl drill. “They’re getting a great coach, a great man, somebody that’s gonna lead them the right way,” Bland stated. “I cherish him. He doesn’t handle you as though he were your coach. He made an effort to come across as a player, a sibling, or just another man you could chat to.”
It’s encouraging to hear that one of Quinn’s finest players still thinks well of him and speaks well for the franchise’s future, especially in light of speculation by pundits like Stephen A. Smith that Quinn might owe his former team after a disappointing postseason performance. Also See: Stephen A. Smith’s Reaction to Dan Quinn’s Hiring Should inexperienced guys like rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. establish a connection akin to that of Quinn and Bland, this Washington defense and squad may see substantial progress in the near future. Bland responded, “Oh yeah, it’s going to be fun, though,” when asked if it would be strange to play Quinn now that the coach he adored had defected to a Dallas foe by joining the Commanders.