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NFL: Seattle's defensive coordinator Quinn to coach Falcons

Xinhua, February 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is named the Atlanta Falcons' new coach, the NFL club announced Monday.

Quinn, whose Seahawks' defensive unit allowed the fewest points and yards in the league over the past two seasons, reportedly signed a five-year deal with the Falcons before owner Arthur Blank announced his hiring.

The Falcons had to wait until the Seahawks, who lost to New England 28-24 on Sunday, completed their playoff run before they could make any agreement official.

Atlanta fired coach Mike Smith after a 6-10 season, the Falcons' second losing campaign in a row.

Quinn, 44, masterminded a Seahawks' defensive squad that permitted only 14.4 points and 273.6 total yards a game in the 2013 season, which ended with the Seahawks routing Denver 43-8 in last year's Super Bowl.

And that was Quinn's first season as an NFL defensive coordinator, a role he had for two seasons at the University of Florida before joining the Seahawks as an assistant and defensive line coach from 2009-2010.

This past season, the Seahawks allowed only 15.9 points and 267.1 yards a game on the way to repeating as National Conference winners. Endi