Story by
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel shares how Dan Quinn changed his life
- Story by
- Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel shares how Dan Quinn changed his life
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is one of the NFL's most respected coaches. Everyone loves Quinn. Anyone who has worked with him praises him. Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is no exception.
McDaniel spent two years working under Quinn as an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-16. That was a difficult time in McDaniel's life.
Advertisement
In January 2016, Quinn, Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Morris sat down with McDaniel and told him they believed he was drinking too much. McDaniel agreed. He would enter rehab and has been sober ever since. He returned to the Falcons later that year and eventually followed Shanahan to San Francisco . McDaniel has been Miami's head coach since 2022.
McDaniel has never forgotten Quinn's impact on his life. And on Sunday, the two friends will face one another for the first time as opposing head coaches. The Commanders and Dolphins did meet in a 2024 preseason game. On Wednesday, McDaniel reflected on the importance of Quinn in his life.
"Dan Quinn holds a special place in my heart and my career," McDaniel said via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. "I think he was there at ground zero when I became sober and supported me and gave me the opportunity to continue what I love to do. So for that, I'll be forever indebted to him."
McDaniels wasn't finished praising Quinn.
Advertisement
"I think it speaks to the type of leader he is — I know he really touches every player he coaches from a true, authentic standpoint. I think the Commanders are very fortunate to have him."
Quinn praised McDaniel's ability as a coach.
"I've known Mike to be an excellent coach," Quinn said on Wednesday. "He can process things so quickly, it's no surprise to see that his offense can throw the ball quickest. They can have the fastest motions. That's Mike to a T, where he can just think so quickly on it. When Mike left Atlanta into San Francisco, I knew he'd make an impact there. And then you'd see that during his time in Miami. And so, the work with the quarterback, with the offense, that's where he is at his best. He's quick; he can get to the next play quickly, to the next concept. So yeah, man, I really enjoyed working with Mike; he's one of my favorite coaches."
However, Quinn made it clear what McDaniel meant to him personally and how proud he is of him.
Advertisement
"I think for us, all of us, I think when there's an issue, sometimes you don't want to let somebody you're with know, you're counting on them, they're counting on you, but really your leaning in that's the biggest strength we can do," Quinn said.
"And in that space, all I want to do is help and give support, and then the real work begins for the person who's in that spot. And that's exactly what Mike did to say, this is what I'm going to work on and how I'm going to go do it. And then that's when the real work begins. And it's part of the reason I'm so proud of him, to make sure, okay, this is something that's happening, this is how I'm going to go deal with it. And then I'm staying connected to that and sharing that with other people. So, anybody now, he now can help and pay that forward. And I think that takes a lot of guts to do that. And that's one of the reasons I'm real proud of him."
It's been a tough year on the field for both coaches. With both teams at 3-7 entering their Week 11 matchup in Madrid, Spain, both badly need a win. The Commanders have lost five games in a row, while the Dolphins are heading into Sunday on a two-game winning streak.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Mike McDaniel 'forever indebted' to Dan Quinn
