One of the hottest coaching candidates in the current hiring cycle is Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. One of his top choices for partnership when it comes to the construction of a roster is off the market.
According to a league source, Quinn had a strong interest in working with Vikings assistant G.M. George Paton. But Paton decided not to interview for the two current G.M. positions, with the Jets and the Bears. Instead, Paton will remain in Minnesota.
It remains to be seen whether Quinn ultimately receives an offer in the current cycle. He has been or will be interviewed by the Jets, Bears, Falcons, 49ers, and Bills.
In the end, the decision could hinge on whether a team is willing to wait for Seattle’s season to end. Barring an upset in the team’s two playoff games, that won’t happen until February 1.
And that speaks to a deeper issue with the hiring process that the league should address. Interviews are permitted, but offers can’t be made, until the coach’s current team ends its season. Surely, there’s a way to tweak the rules to allow teams to hire assistant coaches under contract with other teams before those other teams have ended their playoff runs.