10% Happier with Dan Harris
Episode: Coach Dan Quinn Got Fired, So He Changed His Life
Date: September 7, 2025
Host: Dan Harris
Guest: Dan Quinn, Head Coach of the Washington Commanders
Overview
This episode features Coach Dan Quinn, who recounts his transformative journey after being fired from the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Rather than retreat, Quinn undertook a rigorous self-assessment, solicited tough feedback via a comprehensive 360 review, and implemented what he learned to spark an unexpectedly successful culture shift as Head Coach of the Washington Commanders. The conversation centers not on football tactics but on resilience, personal growth, leadership, receiving and giving feedback, and rebounding from defeat—making it valuable well beyond the sports world.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Turning Setbacks Into Growth Opportunities
- Quinn’s Firing and Self-Reflection: After being fired from the Falcons, Quinn chose to use the opportunity for self-examination, instead of withdrawal or bitterness.
- Quote (06:54): “The hard part of getting let go as a coach during the season, like, it's lonely... But it also, maybe the silver lining was like, it created space to say, what have I done this had I not gotten fired?... It's worth it, man. Do it when it's going good, doing when it's not. But having that feedback helps.” —Dan Quinn
- Embracing the 360 Review Process: Inspired by former boss Arthur Blank (owner of Falcons and founder of Home Depot), Quinn initiated a personalized 360 review from a diverse cross-section of colleagues and former players.
- He deliberately avoided learning who gave what feedback, focusing instead on the substance of what was said.
2. Learning from Honest Feedback
- Facing Uncomfortable Truths: The 360 process yielded hard truths, which Quinn confronted head-on.
- Quote (09:49): "The first one was a daisy cutter bomb to my psyche. And I learned a lot of shit that I did not want to learn." —Dan Harris
- Quote (10:14): “I can help you with that... And all of a sudden, like, I'm finding myself spreading myself too thin... The main thing is, like, all the players, all the coaches, like, what do we need to do to help them be at their best? ...You think you're helping by helping... but you're actually taking less time away from the main thing.” —Dan Quinn
- Practical Adjustments: Quinn internalized the feedback, imposed boundaries, and re-focused on his core coaching strengths, even keeping the 360 report in his desk as a reminder.
3. The Importance of Presence
- Learning to Be Present: Feedback highlighted that Quinn needed to be more present and less scattered. He actively blocked time in his calendar to focus deeply on individual interactions.
- Quote (12:01): “When it's spread too thin, it just allows you to be less present... I had to create time and spots in my schedule to be more present with people.” —Dan Quinn
- He prioritized building relationships over simply managing tasks.
4. Building a Culture of Candor and Accountability
- Cultural Reset at the Commanders: Upon joining the Commanders, Quinn, alongside GM Adam Peters, worked to transform a troubled culture with fresh accountability and open communication.
- “Tell the Truth Mondays”: Instituted as a day when the team reviews what they said they’d do vs. what actually happened, for everyone—regardless of status.
- Quote (13:50): “If you don't have a standard and don’t give that feedback, then, like, you really don't have a standard—So we do call it Tell the Truth Monday... The roles may be different, but the standards applies.” —Dan Quinn
5. How to Deliver Feedback Effectively
- Empathy Without Softness: Quinn stresses giving direct feedback, citing evidence, then ensuring mutual understanding by having recipients repeat the feedback back.
- Quote (15:53): “First thing you want to make sure is that you’re coming into this feedback and say, hey, this is what I'm seeing... Then I think at the end, a lot of times I’ll ask the person, hey, let’s repeat back what we said. Let's talk about this. ...So that’s one way that we give the feedback to one another.” —Dan Quinn
- He also highlights the importance of addressing repeated issues empathetically but firmly.
6. The Centrality of Relationships and “Why”
- “Superficial relationships = superficial coaching”: Authentic, caring relationships allow for honest, productive feedback and growth.
- Quote (17:33): “If you have a relationship with the person before the ball player or before the employee, that makes all the difference. And so finding out what somebody's why is, who they are, why they're playing, why they're competing, why they're doing what they are. It helps you connect better.” —Dan Quinn
- Knowing the “Why”: Understanding the motivations of players and staff is essential for deep engagement and resilience.
7. Resilience and Embracing Adversity
- Anticipating (Not Dreading) Adversity: Quinn now expects ups and downs and prepares his teams for them.
- Quote (23:47): “I don't know if I relish it, but I definitely expect it. ...Let's give everybody the best tools to, like, when they come, that we're able to respond and go handle it in the right way.” —Dan Quinn
- Learning from Losses: After setbacks, Quinn leads the team in honest reflection—extracting lessons and moving forward, not just reliving pain.
- Quote (25:11): “What's this here to teach us? What's the lessons we want to take from this? Otherwise the pain of that loss or the moment really isn't going to go for anything.” —Dan Quinn
8. The Power of Standards vs. Outside Expectations
- Internal Standards Above All: Quinn builds around internal standards, not external opinions.
- Quote (26:59): “We try to operate from a standard versus, like, an expectations, outside talking heads, other people. ...What we have are, like, our own standards. That's way different than what comes from the outside.” —Dan Quinn
9. Preparation as the Root of Confidence
- Confidence from Repetition: The Commanders integrate real-game situations into daily practice so that, under pressure, everyone knows exactly what to do.
- Quote (28:18): “Preparation helps confidence, but that's really where the full heart clear eyes comes from. You did the work to be ready. If you don't...more often than not you get your ass kicked.” —Dan Quinn
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Reading His 360 Review:
[07:53] “Laura [Oakman]...put in all the good things and we did the Zoom together and I just went right past that. ...She's like, no, no, I want you to read everything. So I went down to the bottom. I said, all right, let's begin. But I really appreciated it.” —Dan Quinn -
On Feedback Culture:
[13:50] “If you don't have a standard and don't give that feedback, then, like, you really don't have a standard.” —Dan Quinn -
On Coaching Relationships:
[17:33] “If you have a relationship with the person before the ball player or before the employee, that makes all the difference.” —Dan Quinn -
On Relishing “Prove It” Moments:
[24:26] “Most of the best competitive moments in my life have had to come from when you had to go prove it. And so I love prove it moments, because most of us, you got to stand, put your feet in the ground at some point, say, all right, I'm here to prove it. And I kind of love those moments, to be honest with you.” —Dan Quinn -
On Preparation and Confidence:
[29:13] “Preparation helps confidence, but that’s really where the full heart clear eyes comes from. You did the work to be ready. If you don’t and you get to that starting line and you’re not quite sure, more often than not you get your ass kicked.” —Dan Quinn
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 360 Review and Its Impact: 06:30 – 13:00
- Feedback as a Cultural Keystone (Tell the Truth Monday): 13:00 – 15:45
- How to Give Effective Feedback: 15:45 – 17:30
- Why Relationships Matter for Coaching: 17:30 – 20:00
- On Having a "Why" and Building Resilience: 20:00 – 24:45
- Processing Loss and Bouncing Back: 24:45 – 27:45
- Standards vs. Expectations and Culture: 27:45 – 29:31
Conclusion
Dan Quinn’s journey is a poignant, practical guide to leadership, humility, and growth. His willingness to actively seek and respond to tough feedback, his emphasis on honest communication, and his resilient approach to adversity offer actionable wisdom applicable to any field. This episode is a masterclass in the modern playbook for self-improvement and team culture, delivered with humility and candor.