When the Mighty Quinn got here, everybody was going to jump for joy.

But Dan Quinn, The Man Who Would Be Coach for the Broncos (twice) never made it to Denver.

In 2022 the Broncos’ early preferred candidate, Quinn – the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator – interviewed poorly and was eliminated from the long list to replace Vic Fangio. After the ’22 season, when Nathaniel Hackett faded like a madras shirt, Quinn again was the original choice for the Broncos’ vacancy. However, he declined a second meeting and was out.

Instead, the Broncos eventually would hire Sean Payton in February of ’23, and Quinn became the Commanders’ head coach exactly a year later.

Quinn had an amazing 2024 season and took Washington to the NFC Championship game, but the Eagles beat the Commanders and would win the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, in Denver, Payton guided the Broncos to the playoffs last season, for the first time since 2015, as a wild card. The Broncos were foiled in the first game in Buffalo.

This year the Commanders are struggling mightily with a 3-8 record and will be on the beach in the Bahamas during the post-season. The Broncos are 9-2 and in position to be a No. 1 or 2 seed and a participant in the AFC Championship game.

If Quinn, rather than Payton, had ended up in Denver who knows how it goes? He probably never would have coached either Jayden McDaniels or Bo Nix. He might have been stuck with Russell Wilson and never brought back Vance Joseph as the defensive coordinator because that side of the football was Quinn’s own expertise. The Broncos probably would have been Slow Horses in the Slough House for several additional years.

Quinn and Payton meet again as opposing head coaches for the first time since they were with the Falcons and the Saints in the last decade, and in the same division. Sean compiled a 6-4 record against Dan.

They’ll actually be matched mano a mano – with Payton calling the offensive plays and Quinn handling all the defensive decisions after taking control from Joe Whitt Jr. recently. Payton is scouting the Quinn of now, of the Cowboys and even of the Falcons.

Without the No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy recipient Daniels (who was 2-4 before his severe elbow injury), until at least next week, the Commanders will start someone at quarterback who has an odd connection to Nix.

Marcus Mariota, also a former Heisman Trophy winner, spent three seasons as the Oregon quarterback a decade before Nix transferred in and played two seasons with the Ducks and broke Mariota’s touchdown record.

Mariota was a starter his first four NFL years with the Titans, but injuries and spit-poor play demoted him to a reserve role for most of the past six years in the league. Mariota has played only two games in his career against the Broncos and lost to them 16-0 in 2019.

More than a thousand quarterbacks have passed through Denver since Mariota got to the NFL. Well, perhaps not quite. But Nix has a chance to be the first of all those to start 10-plus years in Denver since John Elway. But Bo Nix has a long way and a long Elway to get there.

Elway’s record for his first 28 starts with the Broncos was 18-10. Nix is 19-9 so far over two seasons. Elway did win 8 of 10 games his third season 40 years ago. Nix has won his past eight consecutive games.

Broncos former head coach and current defensive coordinator and soon NFL head coach again Vance Joseph claims Nix will be the new Elway in Denver.

Elway and Nix have spent limited time together because John retired before Nix was drafted. But John is entirely impressed and thinks Bo should just turn down the noise and keep winning. And Nix says others should slow down the comparisons to Elway. Elway played in two postseason games his first two seasons. The Broncos didn’t qualify for the playoffs in his third season, but reached the Super Bowl and lost in his fourth. Nix could be in that mix.

Nix always will be measured against Elway. The next assessment will be made Sunday night vs. the Mighty Quinn defense.