Happy, but not surprised: Morristown friends say new Falcons Coach Dan Quinn always had right stuff

New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn meets the Atlanta media. Photo: Atlanta Falcons
New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn meets the Atlanta media. Photo: Atlanta Falcons
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Video: Press conference introducing new Falcons Coach Dan Quinn

By Michael Leavy

Residents of Greater Morristown will have a third pro football team to root for next fall when Morristown High grad Dan Quinn (’89) takes the reins as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Classmates and alumni are happy, but not surprised, at Quinn’s success.

Dan Quinn, Morristown High Class of '89, will coach the NFL Atlanta Falcons this fall. Photo by Mike Morris
Dan Quinn, Morristown High Class of ’89, will coach the NFL Atlanta Falcons this fall. Photo by Mike Morris

“Danny was very intense and into football,” said former classmate Paul Nodoro. “He was very competitive from lifting to cross country.”

At the same time, Nodoro recounted, Quinn has “always been a grounded person. One of the reasons he leads well is that he can deal with people. He gets on with anyone he meets.”

Quinn helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl for the last two years, as defensive coordinator.

Prior to that, Quinn had National Football League coaching stops with San Francisco, Miami and the New York Jets. Atlanta is his first head coaching job in the NFL.

Quinn grew up in Morris Township and played football at Morristown High School, graduating in 1989.

“Dan Quinn is just one of so many exceptional MHS alumni that we are all proud of,” said Ed Myers, president of the Morristown High School Alumni Association. “Dan is an really an awesome guy and we wish him all the success he deserves in his new position with the Falcons.”

At his press conference earlier this week, Quinn said he was fired up to coach the Falcons.

“There’s a lot of unique guys on each team and that’s for us to celebrate, their uniqueness, and find out what each guy does best for our team and feature it,” Quinn said when he was introduced to the Atlanta media.

That enthusiasm rang true to his friends back home.

“He’s the same guy he was in high school,” said friend and former classmate Chris Johnson. “Dan was always a student of the game. I always felt he would be a coach.”

New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn meets the Atlanta media. Photo: Atlanta Falcons
New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn meets the Atlanta media. Photo: Atlanta Falcons

 

 

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