“Strong possibility” Dan Quinn leaves for Seattle

By Adam Silverstein
January 17, 2013

UPDATE: Dan Quinn leaves Florida for Seattle Seahawks

Could the Florida Gators be in line for their sixth new coordinator in five seasons?

On Thursday, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was hired as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Immediately thereafter, Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s name popped up both as a potential replacement for Bradley in Seattle or as his hire for defensive coordinator in Jacksonville.

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, “there is a ‘strong possibility’” that Quinn “will return to Seattle to replace Gus Bradley.” He also noted via Twitter that the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles are interested in Quinn.

One year ago, after a season in which he led the Gators to a top-10 defense in his first year at the helm, Quinn reportedly turned down an offer to coordinate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ defense after Greg Schiano was hired as head coach.

Returning to the Seahawks, where he worked as defensive line coach from 2009-10, is certainly an attractive option for him. If he chose to work under Bradley with the Jaguars, it would not force him to uproot his family.

The Eagles, with new head coach Chip Kelly, are believed to be favoring Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham in their search, but it has been reported that Quinn is their second choice. The Browns, with new head coach Rob Chudzinski, are a new name on the scene as far as Quinn is concerned.

There is also the possibility that Quinn returns to Florida and a defense that finished top-five nationally in most categories this past season. He received an $80,000 bonus prior to the 2012 season and will be the Gators’ highest-paid coordinator in 2013 with a salary of $510,000. He will also earn another $80,000 retention bonus if he remains with the team through next season.

UF could certainly extend him once again to an even more lucrative deal.

After spending 10 years in the NFL as a position coach, Quinn has reportedly taken a liking to the college ranks. While a NFL defensive coordinator job would move him closer to potentially earning a head coaching job in that arena, he is further along in establishing himself as a future head coach on the college level.

Quinn, however, could make up to seven-figures as a coordinator in the NFL.

The Gators have not had the same offensive and defensive coordinators coordinators remain on the coaching staff in consecutive seasons since 2007-08.

Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen left to become head coach of Mississippi State after the 2008 season and was replaced with Steve Addazio. Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong took the head coaching gig at Louisville following the 2009 season only to be replaced first by George Edwards and later by Teryl Austin just weeks later after Edwards changed his mind and returned to the NFL. Muschamp hired Quinn and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis when he took over in 2011 but brought in Brent Pease in 2012 after Weis left to accept the head coaching job at Kansas.

OGGOA RELATED – Nov. 7, 2012: Quinn: Where else would you rather coach?

Photo Credit: UF Communications

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