DAN QUINN

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interviewed for head-coaching jobs but reportedly told teams he will stay in Dallas.

A shuffling of the coaching staff for the Dallas Cowboys won’t include defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Brock Purdy came away impressed with the Cowboys' defense in the 49ers' divisional-round win. Will that prepare him for what's to come against the Eagles?

DeMeco Ryans’ day as San Francisco defensive coordinator started with meetings and then went to the practice field as he focused on implementing a defense to slow down Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys.

There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule.

There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years. Here's a look at some coaches who figure to be on the hot seat if things don't turn around in the second half of the season and some assistants who could be in line for head coaching jobs.

The Cowboys signed a wide receiver and defensive end but lost another starting offensive...

A four-time MVP, three Super Bowl players and the beginning of a brother act.

Give Aaron Rodgers a fourth AP Most Valuable Player Award.

The Minnesota Vikings have entered a fast-paced final stretch of their head coach search.

The New York Giants hired Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as their head coach Friday.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach.

One man is most responsible for the Dallas Cowboys’ latest failed season.

Kyle Shanahan was a teenager watching on the sideline when the heated playoff rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers reached a fever pitch with three straight NFC title game matchups.

The NFL has issued a warning to teams that they could lose a draft pick and face significant fines if club representatives conduct themselves unprofessionally in interviews with draft prospects.

CeeDee Lamb had 122 yards from scrimmage, Tony Pollard had a 58-yard touchdown run and the Dallas defense produced timely sacks and turnovers in the Cowboys' 27-17 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Texas education board considers how middle schools teach climate change and sexuality as officials fight over library books.

'This vote really is a test for whether the state board of education in Texas has moved...

Until now, the State Board of Education has left library selections up to local schools.

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys have answered their worst showing of the season with a 43-3 blowout of Atlanta.

Lofty expectations don’t faze Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Dallas Cowboys are still losing ground in a COVID-19 outbreak that was discovered just 90 minutes before their most recent preseason game.

The Atlanta Falcons began their offseason training program without longtime star receiver Julio Jones, who apparently has no intention of returning to a rebuilding team that is still struggling to get under the salary cap.

The NFL is exploring changes to the annual NFL scouting combine to improve the professional and medical experience for draft prospects, a person familiar with those discussions told The Associated Press.

This photo provided by the New Orleans Saints shows Terry Fonetenot in an undated photo. The Atlanta Falcons named Terry Fontenot the teams general manager, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. The 40-year-old Fontenot becomes Atlantas first Black general manager after spending 18 seasons with division rival New Orleans. Fontenot helped build a consistent winner as the Saints’ vice president and assistant general manager in charge of pro personnel. The Falcons fired general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn following a 0-5 start this season, which led to a 4-12 finish, Atlanta's third consecutive losing season.

FILE - Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith instructs his players during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., in this Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, file photo. The New York Jets interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, for their head coaching vacancy. Atlanta agreed to terms with Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Friday to become the team's head coach. Smith has served on Tennessee's staff for 10 seasons, including two as offensive coordinator. He also was an offensive assistant/quality control coach (2012), offensive line/tight ends assistant (2013) and assistant tight ends coach (2014-15).

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay say their friendship and shared history shouldn't have much of an impact on their teams’ upcoming NFC divisional playoff matchup. The top-seeded Packers (13-3) host the Rams (11-6) on Saturday with an NFC championship game berth at stake. San Francisco’s head coach is Kyle Shanahan, who worked at Washington with Matt LaFleur and McVay from 2010-13. LaFleur was the quarterbacks coach on Quinn’s Atlanta staff from 2015-16 and worked for Mike Vrabel at Tennessee in 2018. They reunited in 2017 when McVay became the Rams’ head coach and hired LaFleur.

Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady is becoming a popular name for NFL teams seeking to fill head coaching vacancies. A person familiar with the situation says the Chargers, Falcons and Texans have all asked for and received permission from the Panthers to interview Brady for their head coaching jobs. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt, File)ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons have interviewed a pair of offensive coordinators, Nathaniel Hackett of the Green Bay Packers and Joe Brady of the Carolina Panthers, for their head coaching job. The Falcons conducted a virtual interview with Hackett on Thursday, one day after meeting virtually with Brady. “I think one of the (prerequisites) to being a good head coach is presence in front of a room," Rodgers said.

FILE - In this Dec. 15 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn speaks after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, in Carson, Calif. The Los Angeles Chargers have fired coach Anthony Lynn less than two seasons after he led the franchise to the AFC divisional round. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)COSTA MESA, Calif. – A four-game winning streak at the end of the season wasn't enough to save Anthony Lynn's job with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lynn led the franchise to the playoffs in 2018 but Los Angeles had losing records the last two seasons. Hired by the Chargers in January 2017, Lynn was the first Black head coach in franchise history and had one year remaining on his contract.

Brady threw touchdown passes of 29 and 4 yards to Chris Godwin. Ryan scored on a 1-yard sneak and also threw scoring passes of 19 yards to Russell Gage and 1 yard to Hayden Hurst. The latter trimmed Atlanta’s deficit to 30-27 before Brady put the game away with two late drives. Brown had his most productive day since joining the Bucs midway through the season with 11 catches for 138 yards. Godwin had five receptions for 133 yards, while Evans had three catches for 46 yards before leaving the game.

Now, though, the Texans are getting company on the "vacant head coach and GM" front. The Lions fired Patricia and GM Dan Quinn on Saturday just two days after the Texans stomped them on Thanksgiving Day at home. The Jags fired their longtime GM David Caldwell on Sunday, and head coach Doug Marrone is probably not far behind. DETROIT LIONS (4-7)The Lions fired Jim Caldwell after three winning seasons in four years to hire Patricia, a Bill Belichick disciple. It could make it a tougher run for a head coach to go through a slow build with a young QB.

The Falcons (2-6) have had a penchant for squandering leads this season, coming into the game 1-3 when leading entering the fourth quarter. Carolina was driving late, but Atlanta stalled the rally when Blidi Wreh-Wilson intercepted Teddy Bridgewater near the Falcons' 10-yard line with 1:04 remaining. Moore on third and 18 to move the Panthers into Falcons territory. Bridgewater was limited to 176 yards passing as the Panthers (3-5) lost their third straight game without injured Christian McCaffrey. The Falcons avenged a 23-16 loss to Carolina 18 days ago in which Bridgewater threw for 313 yards and two scores and Mike Davis piled up 149 yards rushing.

ATLANTA – The NFL plans to take a cautious approach that may force players and coaches reporting flu symptoms to miss games without testing positive for COVID-19. The Atlanta Falcons closed their facility Thursday following a second positive test for COVID-19. The New England Patriots have twice had their original Week 5 matchup against Denver postponed following four positive coronavirus tests by players. “This decision was made in consultation with the NFL and medical officials,” the team said in a statement. They make sure that they know everyone is aware even if they catch you with your mask down a little bit, they’ll make sure you move it up.”The Falcons had seven players test positive during training camp.

The Atlanta Falcons have named defensive coordinator Raheem Morris interim head coach after firing Dan Quinn. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)ATLANTA – The poor performance of Atlanta's defense under the leadership of Raheem Morris won't matter if Morris finds a way to win as the Falcons' interim coach. The more Morris wins, the better he'll look to Falcons owner Arthur Blank as perhaps more than just a temporary replacement for the fired Dan Quinn. Can Morris, elevated Monday to interim coach, be a candidate for the full-time job? Blank noted 11 games provides an unusually long opportunity for an interim coach to make his mark.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn stands with Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. Quinn was hired by the Falcons in 2015 after a highly successful run as Seattle’s defensive coordinator, highlighted by two straight trips to the Super Bowl. After going 8-8 his first season, Quinn guided the Falcons to one of the greatest years in team history. The Falcons made the playoffs again the following year, losing to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia, but never seemed to fully shake their Super Bowl debacle. Dimitroff kept his job when Smith was fired at the end of the 2014 season after two straight losing campaigns.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn gestures as he walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. He is the second NFL coach this season to lose his job after Houston’s Bill O’Brien was dismissed following an 0-4 start. Quinn was hired by the Falcons in 2015 after a highly successful run as Seattle’s defensive coordinator, highlighted by two straight trips to the Super Bowl. Therefore, we will install new coaching and personnel leadership of the Atlanta Falcons at the appropriate time." At Dallas, the Falcons led 20-0 and 29-10, were still up 39-24 with 5:00 to go.

In other words, there are two Bill O'Briens — there's the head coach who is named "Bill," and the GM who is named "William." Well, three weeks in, William O'Brien's atrocious personnel decisions this past offseason have really pained Bill O'Brien into a corner. Not that Bill O'Brien doesn't deserve some serious blame. Bill O'Brien, the head coach, is wasting Deshaun Watson's early prime by tossing him to the wolves every Sunday behind this underachieving offensive line. Look, Fangio can't control the injuries, but the Broncos are ripe to hire a young, forward thinking, offensive head coach.

Chicago Bears strong safety Tashaun Gipson (38) celebrates his interception of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Atlanta. The Chicago Bears won 30-26. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The Falcons surrendered a 16-point advantage in the final 6 1/2 minutes to the Chicago Bears, who got three touchdown passes from backup quarterback Nick Foles and pulled out a 30-26 win on Sunday. It would have seemed downright improbable — if it hadn't happened for the second week in a row. The former Super Bowl MVP won it with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Miller with 1:53 remaining. He tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Graham to make it 26-16 with 6:20 to go. But Foles got his chance after Trubisky threw an interception in the third quarter that led to a Falcons field goal, pushing the lead to 26-10.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback C.J. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)ATLANTA – As the ball spun slowly along the turf at Jerry’s World, the black-clad players backing away like it was a live grenade, Atlanta’s grim sports history flooded the consciousness. There was never any doubt a Dallas player would fall on the onside kick before the Falcons did. There was never any doubt the game-winning kick would almost perfectly split the uprights, handing a team from Atlanta an almost unfathomable defeat. The Falcons led 20-0 in the first quarter after Dallas fumbled the ball away three times.

Dallas Cowboys' Chris Jones (6) and others celebrate with kicker Greg Zuerlein (2) after Zuerlein kicked a field goal to help the Cowboys to a 40-39 win against the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Dallas Cowboys' Chris Jones (6) and others celebrate with kicker Greg Zuerlein (2) after Zuerlein kicked a field goal to help the Cowboys to a 40-39 win against the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas – One gamble after another failed for coach Mike McCarthy in his home debut with the Dallas Cowboys. Greg Zuerlein kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired, and the Cowboys overcame four fumbles and a 20-point deficit in the first quarter to beat the Atlanta Falcons 40-39 on Sunday. The Falcons pushed the lead to 39-24 on Younghoe Koo's fourth field goal with just under eight minutes left. Calvin Ridley was the leader for the Falcons this week with 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Single wins are probably not enough to turn down the heat on any of these head coaches. Here are the Hot Seat Ratings for all 31 remaining head coaches. ICE TUB (16) These are head coaches who have zero concerns about job security, as they wake up this morning. Mike Zimmer, MINOne of the "rocks" of the head coaching fraternity, you know what you get when Zimmer is the head coach (and it's mostly good). Ron Rivera, CARAnother head coach where the handling of the absence of the incumbent starting QB may have extended his window as head coach for another five years.

On the betonline,ag odd board last week, Bill O'Brien and Dan Quinn were listed as tied with the second shortest odds to be the first NFL head coach fired, a4 odds of 4/1. Check this out:Every week on Jay Gruden's show he is given the "Bob's Discount Furniture Hot Seat Challenge." Now, Jay Gruden may be the first NFL head coach fired in 2019, but he is most certainly not the last. So, with Gruden off the board, what's the heat level on the "hot seat" of the other 31 head coaches. Bill O'Brien, HOUYes, I have O'Brien on a seat at about the heat level of a nice late October evening in Texas.

WINNERSWill Fuller became the third WR in team history to go for over 200 yards in a game. ReaderYeah, this was the highest scoring game between both teams (85 points) in Texans history, but let's make sure to give the Texans' defense a little bit of love. After the game, O'Brien still seemed pretty salty, vowing that their only goal for the upcoming weeks is weekly improvement. Had the Texans lost, I still don't think O'Brien's seat would have been at "pending termination" levels of heat. With the Rams and the Seahawks among the next three opponents, Quinn might be done when the bye week arrives in Week 9.