Stephen A. Smith’s Deadpan Reaction to Commanders’ Hiring of Dan Quinn Is Unintentionally Hilarious

Stephen A. Smith wasn’t overly excited about the Washington Commanders’ new coaching hire.

Smith reacted live on Thursday morning’s First Take to a report that Washington’s next coach would be Dallas Cowboys DC and former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. Quinn, who famously was on the Falcons sideline during Atlanta’s 28–3 Super Bowl collapse against the New England Patriots, is getting another crack at a head job, this time at an organization that could desperately use some new life. Smith, however, didn’t seem thrilled about the hire.

“I’m not questioning his football qualifications, as a head coach in Atlanta he was decent, got them to a Super Bowl,” Smith said. “The last time we saw him was in a playoff game with the Dallas Cowboys, the defense looked horrific… in moments that it really mattered, they came up short. To me, if you’re a division rival in the NFC East, and that’s the backdrop for it, for that to be your hire?"

Smith went on to say he doesn’t believe it’s a bad hire, but believed Quinn should have returned to Dallas for another year to “make amends” for his team’s disastrous playoff performance.

“Again, I’m not saying that the man can’t coach, I’m not saying that the man doesn’t deserve a job, I’m not even saying he doesn’t deserve to be a head coach,” Smith said. “But an NFC East rival, coming off what I saw them do, am I excited about this hire for the nation’s capital? No.”

Quinn, 53, has a 43–42 career record as a head coach, including three straight sub-.500 seasons to round out his tenure in Atlanta.