According to WSB-TV, the Falcons’ star wide receiver interrupted Quinn’s post game speech after suffering a loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“This man has done everything for us, it’s on us, it’s not on Q,” Jones said to his teammates.
Many across social media called for the dismissal of Quinn following the team’s five-game losing streak.
“This is the unraveling of the Dan Quinn era, and it’s not pretty. Hard to think that after the Seattle game we will have the same coaching staff. Team is desperate, coaching staff is lost, owner is worn out, fans are apathetic. This is sad to watch,” said one Twitter user.
“How it’s noon on the Monday after the Falcons got trounced at home 37-10 and a 1-6 start to the season and Dan Quinn still has a job is beyond me,” said another Twitter user.
Despite the amount of backlash the team has received for their record, Falcons owner Arthur Blank thinks otherwise. Blank told TheAthletic that he “still supports” Quinn.
In the NFL, coaches are usually the first to be placed on the chopping block when a team is struggling. For example, the Washington Redskins fired head coach Jay Gruden after failing to obtain a win throughout the first five games of the 2019 season.
On the other hand, the Falcons have experienced their fair share of player issues, including injury and ejection. Running back Devonta Freeman was ejected after throwing a punch at Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and quarterback Matt Ryan suffered a sprained ankle after being sacked. Running back Ito Smith was also forced to leave Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion.
Like Jones, Falcons’ defensive tackle Takk McKinley expressed his support of Quinn.
“The coaches have nothing to do with how we’ve been playing,” McKinley said. “They put us in great situations to go out there and perform, it’s just up to the players to do it.”
Despite the recent player problems for the Falcons, when asked if he believes that he’s lost the team, Quinn said, “no.”
On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons traded wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots for a second-round draft pick.
The Falcons are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Atlanta this weekend. If Ryan’s ankle injury is severe, he will be replaced by backup QB Matt Schaub, who threw for 65 yards and a touchdown in relief duty against the Rams.