The HC Dan Quinn Discussion Thread

[skinsinparadise]

Also relevant:
Vrabel with fresh OC and I think DC.
Macdonald in year2 but his OC is year-1
Ben Johnson in year1 with fresh OC and DC.

So this idea that it takes years is being looked at as problematic especially when owners are giving fat paychecks to the coaching staff. Looks like coaching is going to get a little more stressful. That would be my guess.

Yeah and I am not coming out of this from pessimism as to Quinn. I think Quinn and Peters do bounce back. I think they make the playoffs.

Does Blough being a new coordinator and has to learn the ropes derail that quest? I don't know. But I am not giving Quinn a special out of it does.

There is no way to know but it would be hard for me to believe that Harris told Quinn, hey dude, I expect sort of a rebuild year, do your best but I am looking at 2027.

Judging by X and fan blogs and call radio, I'd guess about 25% or so of the fans think the 2024 season is a mirage and to embrace that this team sucks again and is still a doormat team. In the past, mostly on ES, I talked about the struggles to get my younger son to be a fan of this team considering all the downs over the years. In 2024, I not only got him sold in a big way but one of my other kids who isn't even a sports fan enjoyed the hype and went to some games with me. Now they are both checked out again. My son even more so than before -- the tease and the crash seemed to lol take a lot out of him. And I see some of that with some of the other fans. Heck we got on this thread a person or two associating this ownership to the Dan era.

My point is I don't think Harris can cement this team as a Bruce Allen-Rivera era team. That is, a bad to mediocre team with occasional flashes with some sort of sell that in the future it will work out just stay patient. For a franchise that ESPN said if I recall about 3 years ago is one that's bleeding fans -- I don't think they can afford to reignite the bleed.

This isn't a franchise IMO that can be the one watching other 2024 rookie QBs succeed multiple years in a row in the post season with better rosters and better coached teams -- with this franchise selling hey we just aren't the Bears, or Denver or the Patriots, sorry, but heck we got some up and coming coordinators so in 2027 maybe we will be a team like that.

Denver brought a new coaching staff same year as this team and had to overcome an historically bad trade that cost them both cap room and draft capital -- yet here they are as a powerhouse. Bears went through two different regimes and was a bottom feeder team and they look good. Pats were 5-12, went through two regimes and they might win a SB.

Quinn and IMO Peters too don't deserve extra time in this case if they fail because basically they aren't as competent as the GMs and coaches of these other teams hence they need more time to get it right. Now again, that's if they fail again this season. Personally, I think they will succeed and this becomes a moot conversation. But if they fail i don't think they deserve another run. And if Harris wants to play this patiently and give them more rope I think he's underestimating the fragility of his fan base.

 

[DWinzit]

Make no mistake, Quinn and Peter’s are not safe. If they don’t hit a home run this offseason and show major improvement in ‘26, the franchise HAS to move on.

And what it probably will mean is Peters keeps his job and DQ is canned. Then we go into a full blown rebuild of staff but the true builder of the team AP sticks

 

[skinsinparadise]

And what it probably will mean is Peters keeps his job and DQ is canned. Then we go into a full blown rebuild of staff but the true builder of the team AP sticks

Probably it feels like Peters has more rope right now than Quinn. Although I put more blame on him than Quinn for last season.

But just thinking about it some in that same two years they've been here -- the Bears have had two regimes, multiple coordinators and are true contenders now. Pats also with two regimes and overhauled a roster in one season. Denver had to overcome one of the worst trades in NFL history and is at the door of a SB and been in the playoffs two years in a row.

Now all three teams have a good young QB. But so does this team.

With over 100 million in cap room, a top 10 pick and a IMO a franchise QB and this team can't make the playoffs in 2026 that to me would be an obvious failure. And if its because Blough is learning the ropes if anything to me its more of a reason to fire Quinn not less of one.

But yeah as for Peters he shouldn't fail this opportunity. I don't think he will fail it. But if he does, it showcases that the Bears, Pats, Denver are organizations that do it better than this one.

 

[DWinzit]

Probably it feels like Peters has more rope right now than Quinn. Although I put more blame on him than Quinn for last season.

Agreed that AP deserves a good amount of blame from last years results. I haven't heard him really say he deserves the blame but he has said he has learned from last years experience.

 

[Chris]

If an architect designs a house and it collapses…do you fire that architect, the general contractor, or both? 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[skinsinparadise]

Agreed that AP deserves a good amount of blame from last years results. I haven't heard him really say he deserves the blame but he has said he has learned from last years experience.

I am sort of in between two IMO extreme positions here.

A. Quinn and Peters suck. 2024's success had nothing to do with them. They deserved to be defined totally by 2025 and that season was unacceptable and unforgivable

B. Quinn and Peters are sort of in rebuild mode. Give them time. They deserve at least two more seasons.

To me, its I think Peters and Quinn will bounce back. I think 2026 will be a good season. But if they don't, I am not interested in what they can do in 2027.

I can go with the argument that they failed in 2025 primarily because of injuries. I'll give them an out. But if they fail again not only don't they deserve an out but assuming Denver, Chicago, NE are still good -- it comes off borderline embarassing considering you would have three organizations who started off in a similar place yet out did this organization by a mile. It can't be more in your face than that.

 

[DWinzit]

If an architect designs a house and it collapses…do you fire that architect, the general contractor, or both? 🤷🏻‍♂️

If it is already built and occupied they have received their money and moved on, no firing

 

[DWinzit]

I am sort of in between two IMO extreme positions here.

A. Quinn and Peters suck. 2024's success had nothing to do with them. They deserved to be defined totally by 2025 and that season was unacceptable and unforgivable

B. Quinn and Peters are sort of in rebuild mode. Give them time. They deserve at least two more seasons.

To me, its I think Peters and Quinn will bounce back. I think 2026 will be a good season. But if they don't, I am not interested in what they can do in 2027.

I can go with the argument that they failed in 2025 primarily because of injuries. I'll give them an out. But if they fail again not only don't they deserve an out but assuming Denver, Chicago, NE are still good -- it comes off borderline embarassing considering you would have three organizations who started off in a similar place yet out did this organization by a mile. It can't be more in your face than that.

Yeah I see them both being to blame for 2025 and at this point deserve another chance. However a fail in the coming year and at least DQs head rolls. The situation in Buffalo feels like a wacky scenario where they fire the HC (which he was good but I can understand) and promote the GM, whom I see as not doing the greatest job building that team.

 

[KDawg]

If it is already built and occupied they have received their money and moved on, no firing

Yes, in this hypothetical Ron Rivera is our architect and contractor.

Good Lord.

 

[DWinzit]

Yes, in this hypothetical Ron Rivera is our architect and contractor.

Good Lord.

I was thinking in terms of construction of a building, not of a football team based on the example given

 

[KDawg]

I was thinking in terms of construction of a building, not of a football team based on the example given

understood. That’s why I equated it to construction and football… and it led me to Rivera being our architect. House was thriving and then collapsed. And he’s counting the cash and waiting for his ring.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Given they aren’t talking to Schwartz and Ullbrich is staying in Atlanta, his last two chances at a star DC are Flores and Gannon

I have long thought it was going to be Morris. I still think that’s the case. I also think Morris is a good DC. He was the DC for some really good Rams defenses just 2 years ago.

While he has familiarity with Quinn, I think he’s also a really good DC.

I think from the Quinn perspective, he likes people he’s familiar with, and I think he’s going to want that.

Quinn is going to have a very interesting staff. We’ll see how it works out for him.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I have long thought it was going to be Morris. I still think that’s the case. I also think Morris is a good DC. He was the DC for some really good Rams defenses just 2 years ago.

While he has familiarity with Quinn, I think he’s also a really good DC.

I think from the Quinn perspective, he likes people he’s familiar with, and I think he’s going to want that.

Quinn is going to have a very interesting staff. We’ll see how it works out for him.

Morris average ranking as a D coordinator, 19. not that am stuck on that. X's and O's type guys that I've followed over the years seem to see him as a pedestrian coordinator.

The good news though is his rep as a dude, is A plus. Great motivator, great guy. It would be doubling down on the brotherhood theme. Logan really likes him.

I wouldn't hate it and wouldn't love it if its Raheem. But I do think it would be a a good jump better from Whitt.

Though some think he will go to be in the media versus coaching a D this season.

 

[heisenberg]

If an architect designs a house and it collapses…do you fire that architect, the general contractor, or both? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Depends on why it collapsed.

That seems to be the forensic analysis we're all struggling with right now about 2025 because the house was looking pretty damn good a year ago before the earthquake hit.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

If an architect designs a house and it collapses…do you fire that architect, the general contractor, or both? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Doesn't that depend on the failure? Did the contractor short cut any materials and follow the design completely?

 

[heisenberg]

I am sort of in between two IMO extreme positions here.

A. Quinn and Peters suck. 2024's success had nothing to do with them. They deserved to be defined totally by 2025 and that season was unacceptable and unforgivable

B. Quinn and Peters are sort of in rebuild mode. Give them time. They deserve at least two more seasons.

To me, its I think Peters and Quinn will bounce back. I think 2026 will be a good season. But if they don't, I am not interested in what they can do in 2027.

I can go with the argument that they failed in 2025 primarily because of injuries. I'll give them an out. But if they fail again not only don't they deserve an out but assuming Denver, Chicago, NE are still good -- it comes off borderline embarassing considering you would have three organizations who started off in a similar place yet out did this organization by a mile. It can't be more in your face than that.

I don't have Quinn and peters tied together quite as much as you do.

Quinn had head coaching experience before he came here and this would be strike two, and in football you rarely get 3 strikes but Peters is younger a first timer on the job and came in with more league wide perception of potential.

I think you give peters a chance to learn from his mistakes and mature on the job.
In years past we wouldn't have even had a chance of landing someone like peters so I think it would be premature to fire him after only 3 years attempting to transform what we all knew was a disastrous roster.

Unless something crazy happens I give peters one more coach especially considering peters and Quinn were essentially hired at the same time he hadn't even had a chance to get his feet wet and the decision to hire Quinn is largely a product of the people who were brought in to advise Harris.

Just my opinion but as far as my hope that Quinn can be the guy who gets us where we want to be versus Peter's ID say im 40/60 on Quinn and 70/30 on peters on a hope versus doubt scale.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't have Quinn and peters tied together quite as much as you do.

Quinn had head coaching experience before he came here and this would be strike two, and in football you rarely get 3 strikes but Peters is younger a first timer on the job and came in with more league wide perception of potential.

I think you give peters a chance to learn from his mistakes and mature on the job.
In years past we wouldn't have even had a chance of landing someone like peters so I think it would be premature to fire him after only 3 years attempting to transform what we all knew was a disastrous roster.

Unless something crazy happens I give peters one more coach especially considering peters and Quinn were essentially hired at the same time he hadn't even had a chance to get his feet wet and the decision to hire Quinn is largely a product of the people who were brought in to advise Harris.

Just my opinion but as far as my hope that Quinn can be the guy who gets us where we want to be versus Peter's ID say im 40/60 on Quinn and 70/30 on peters on a hope versus doubt scale.

Context matters to me more with Peters than it does with Quinn. I know some here don't care about context with Quinn as for 2025. I am not in that camp. But context doesn't matter to me about Quinn in 2026. I just can't give him two passes for bad seasons. And again I lean positive about Quinn. I think he comes through this season, but will see.

As for Peters, I don't know if Harris has put the breaks on him as to spending. If he did, I'd feel much differently about him. I don't think on the aggregate he did a good job in 2025 but much of that in my mind is because of lack of ambition-aggression. But if that lack of ambition was foisted on him from Harris, I can't fault him for it.

 

[BayouBrave86]

I’m starting to lean towards Peters and Quinn suck. I’ll hold off judgment on Peters til after free agency, but it seems like we are right back where we started. Again, imagine where this team is without a Jayden or Maye. I think Amos and Connerly are going to work out real well, don’t get me wrong but this team is in the cellar last season too if they didn’t luck out on a top QB. The lack of talent is truly astounding. Sure Ron didn’t do us any favors but we are now going into the third season with still so many holes on the team that one offseason seemingly can’t fix. I’ve said it before but I do actually like how our offense is constructed on the oline and think the receiver group is strong if healthy but we need a game breaker at RB and a legit TE that isn’t fighting Father Time. Now the defense, sheeesh probably need at least 7 new full time starters on that side.

 

[Riggo44]

If Bitonio doesn't tip the pass and we beat the Broncos; if we don't fumble and we go on to beat the Bears; if Mariota doesn't throw that bat-shit interception against the Dolphins and we win that one, do these changes alter how we perceive Quinn? If those three plays go another way, we're looking at 8-9 after one of the worst injured season I can remember.

-We can sit and say he has to go X-X, or Y-Y to keep his job. OK, but not all 9-8s are created equal. If Jayden is JAYDEN again and we win 9, but the defense sucks hot ass, is that better or worse than going 8-9, 7-10, everyone dies again, but Quinn keeps it together, defense improves, and we play hard, have fun, and make some friends along the way?

Obviously, if we win 4 games next year, regardless of context, Quinn is probably gone--most coaches in this league are likely gone after winning 9 games in 2 years. But I think a lot can go into the discussion than just a hard-and-fast, pre-determined record he has to meet.

 

[mcdonaldrw]

I think my biggest hang up for this season is that the team went into this past off season and didn't make any big splashes, outside of Tunsil and DeeBo. This is probably more a problem with how AP handled the free agency period last year, but if I'm DQ I am knocking down APs door begging him for weapons.

Going into the 2025 season we had one of the oldest rosters in the NFL, and yet AP didn't spend some of that cap money the team had. Again an AP problem but DQ as the HC must make noise that we can't go quietly into 2025 without getting some serious talent.

I don't know maybe I'm way off base (wouldn't be the first time), but our failings this year are due to weak performance by AP in free agency, and injuries.

Fingers crossed that this year we get some talent on both sides of the ball, and some depth. I don't want to see the peanut vendor as our number 3 receiver in 2026.