For now, Kelvin Sheppard's job as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator is safe. He ensured that with a big performance from his defense in Sunday's win against the Arizona Cardinals.
The same could not be said for Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who could soon find himself without a job.
Dan Quinn's time with Commanders could be ticking
Quinn's Commanders (1-3-1) surrendered a 27-13 fourth-quarter lead to the upstart New York Giants (3-1-1), allowing them to send what was looking like a comfortable win for the Commanders into overtime.
In overtime, Washington came up with a clutch takeaway on the Giants on the Commanders' 24-yard line. But as the Commanders worked their way to the Giants' own 24-yard line, poor clock management and a lack of urgency led to one of the most catastrophic ending blunders in recent memory, as quarterback Jayden Daniels was unable to spike the ball in time, preventing a possible game-winning field goal.
That tie stalled any momentum the Commanders could've had to take over an extremely winnable NFC East, giving them a key win against the current division leader. It also negated any goodwill that came from the Commanders' surprise upset win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.
Now, calls for Quinn's firing have amplified louder and louder since Sunday, and it isn't going to get easier for Quinn with a Monday Night Football tilt on the road against the San Francisco 49ers (5-0).
If the Commanders don't show any sign of life and resolve on Monday, that could be it for Quinn's time in Washington as the team heads into a Bye week. A drastic downfall just two seasons after leading his team to their first NFC Championship Game in over 30 years. Let's not talk about how they got to that NFC Championship game, though.
If Quinn were to be fired, the Lions shouldn't let that downfall scare them from enlisting his help for rest of the season in lieu of firing Sheppard.
Quinn is still a great defensive coordinator
The Commanders are Quinn's second head coaching gig, with the first being the Atlanta Falcons. He earned both of those gigs through his work as a defensive coordinator.
From 2013 to 2014, Quinn led the iconic "Legion of Boom" Seattle Seahawks defense, which went to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning one of them. Quinn parlayed that success to the Falcons' head coaching job. His six seasons there saw quarterback Matt Ryan win an MVP, and the Falcons lose in the Super Bowl in the infamous "28-3" game.
READ MORE: Lions’ offense remains terrified of winning the first quarter in 2026
After being fired after a 0-5 start in 2020, Quinn joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. The horrific Cowboys' defense saw an immediate turnaround under Quinn, going from a then-franchise-worst 473 points allowed in 2020 to the seventh-fewest 358 in 2021. The Cowboys doubled their win total from six to 12, winning the NFC East, leading to Quinn winning the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award.
The Cowboys would finish with the fifth-fewest points given up in the following two seasons, as well as leading in takeaways in the first two seasons of Quinn's DC tenure. After he was hired by the Commanders, the Cowboys dropped the second-most points given up in 2024 (468) and the most in 2025 (511).
The Cowboys are near the bottom again, with the eighth-most points allowed through five weeks (116).
Lions should consider hiring Quinn as a senior defensive assistant
It's understandable why the potential addition of Quinn could lead to some reservations. Lions have enough trouble keeping leads, and his last game as a DC for the Cowboys saw his team surrender 48 points to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.
But Quinn would not be the head coach. He would not touch the offense. For the time being, he wouldn't even be the DC. He's still a great defensive mind who can impart wisdom and experience to Sheppard. Mentor him as he grows and tries to find his own defensive identity, which could lead to Sheppard becoming a great DC in his own right.
For Quinn, it's also an opportunity to rehabilitate his image once again by joining a defense he can help turn around. If things continue to go awry, he can slot right in at DC for a team with a Super Bowl-ready offense and stars on defense like EDGE Aidan Hutchinson.
READ MORE: DJ Wonnum is quietly giving Lions' pass rush exactly what they've always needed
But would the Lions even bother? Last week, Campbell was asked if he's thought about bringing in a senior defensive assistant to help out, which he responded by saying, "Not at this moment, no I have not." Campbell said he wanted to see how the team did on Sunday and evaluate everything during the Bye.
With the defense taking a step in the right direction on Sunday, he still likely isn't thinking about it. But if they struggle coming out of the bye against the Packers, and Quinn just happens to be available, Campbell may have no choice but to reach out.
Bringing Quinn into the coaching staff, in any capacity, is about the biggest swing the Lions could take on defense without giving up premium trade capital on a player, and it's a move that could be every bit as impactful going forward.
Add us as a preferred source on Google