The NFC wild-card game on Saturday, January 6 has the Atlanta Falcons (10-6) facing the Los Angeles Rams (11-5) at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Both teams have young coaches. The Rams have the youngest in NFL history — 31-year-old Sean McVay, and this is 47-year-old Falcons leader Dan Quinn‘s third season as a head coach.
Quinn played college football (and track and field) at Salisbury State University in Maryland but never played professional football. (Neither did Miami University of Ohio grad McVay.) Quinn launched his coaching career at William & Mary (defensive line coach) before breaking into the NFL as a defensive line coach in 2001 (49ers, Dolphins, Jets, and Seahawks, with whom he won the Super Bowl XLVIII). Quinn was named head coach (his first time at it) in 2015 by the Atlanta Falcons. NFL.com writer Judy Battista says Quinn’s approach to rejuvenating the Falcons is a “blend of Bill Parcells and Tupac.” On the wall of his office is a quote from the book Attitudes: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.” Attitudes was written by Charles Swindoll, an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher. The NFL Playoff Game, Falcons vs. Rams, will air live at 8pm on NBC.
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