Ex-Falcons head coach Dan Quinn joins Cowboys as defensive coordinator

Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The Dallas Cowboys have hired former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn to be their next defensive coordinator, the team announced Monday night.

League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Quinn agreed to a three-year contract with the Cowboys. According to the outlets, the deal matched the length of Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore's new contract.

Both coordinators will be signed through the 2023 season.

Quinn takes over for former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who was fired last week by Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. Dallas (6-10) allowed the most points in franchise history (473) and finished 31st in the NFL in run defense this season.

The 50-year-old Quinn was fired as head coach of the Falcons only five games into the 2020 season after joining the team in 2015. He posted a 43-42 record and led the franchise to the Super Bowl in his second season.

Before joining Atlanta, Quinn was the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014. The Seahawks finished No. 1 in yards and points allowed in his two seasons with the team.

This week in the National Football League

The Cleveland Browns won the AFC Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 in a nearly empty Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' Jordan Dangerfield bows his head following the 48-37 Browns win. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Browns' Donovan Peoples-Jones (L) celebrates his touchdown. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' Eric Ebron (L) is chased by the Browns' Myles Garrett out of bounds. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' James Conner (R) tries to hold onto the ball with pressure from the Browns. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Browns' M.J. Stewart (R) intercepts a Ben Roethlisberger pass. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Browns' race to recover a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (C) has a pass interrupted by the Browns' Andrew Sendejo. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady (R) and head coach Bruce Arians shake hands after the Buccaneers defeated the Washington Football Team 31-23 on Saturday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Logan Thomas (L) is unable to make an attempted first down catch under pressure from the Buccaneers' defenders. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Brady (R) hugs Cameron Brate in the second half of a wild card playoff game. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Taylor Heinicke (C) runs against the Buccaneers. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Heinicke (R) dives into the end zone to score against the Buccaneers. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Heinicke (4) celebrates after throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steven Sims Jr. against the Buccaneers. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Buccaneers' Cameron Brate (C) is stopped by Washington Football Team defenders Jeremy Reaves (L) and Kendall Fuller. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Cam Sims brings in a pass against the Buccaneers. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette (C) runs against Washington. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) celebrates with teammate Chris Godwin (R) after a 36-yard touchdown against during the first half. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Brady throws to Antonio Brown for a 36-yard touchdown. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

The Buccaneers' Antonio Brown (L) scores in front of Washington's Jimmy Moreland (C) and Ronald Darby on a 36-yard touchdown. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Steven Sims Jr. brings in an 11-yard touchdown. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Logan Thomas (R) misses a pass. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Brady throws downfield. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Heinicke (L) celebrates a quarterback keeper touchdown. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

A Washington Football Team security official keeps watch from the stands near cardboard cutouts arranged in a social distancing pattern. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo