ORLANDO – The Washington Commanders recently stole Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and promoted him to be the team’s next head coach; now, one of his former players, DaRon Bland, has offered his two cents on Bland and the situation.
Bland is a cornerback who just finished his second season in the NFL by leading the league with nine interceptions, five of which he returned for touchdowns, helping propel him to become both a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro.
DaRon Bland, one of Dan Quinn’s former Dallas Cowboys pupils, has revealed his feelings toward the coach after joining his team’s rival, the Washington Commanders as a head coach.
Despite losing Quinn to a division rival in Washington, Bland still spoke highly of him when talking to Commander Country in Orlando during an NFL Pro Bowl practice.
“They’re getting a great coach, a great man, somebody that’s gonna lead them the right way,” Bland said. “I love him. He doesn’t treat you like he’s your coach. He tried to treat you like he’s a brother, a player, another guy you can talk to.”
After hearing sports takes from analysts such as Stephen A. Smith regarding Quinn potentially owing his old team after a poor playoff game, it’s nice to hear that one of Quinn’s best players still holds him in such high regard and speaks well for the franchise’s future.
If young players such as rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. can form a bond similar to that of Quinn and Bland, then this Washington defense and team could experience significant improvement in the near future.
When Bland was asked if it would be weird to face Quinn now that the coach he loved had flipped to a Dallas rival by joining the Commanders, he said, “Oh yeah, it’s gonna be fun, though.”
