Robert Quinn: Everything you need to know about the newest Eagle
Quinn, 32, was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday. He racked up 18 1/2 sacks last season for the Bears and was named a second-team All-Pro.
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Defensive end Robert Quinn was given the Brian Piccolo award by his Bears teammates last spring to honor his courage and dedication to the sport. Quinn, now 32 and the newest Eagle following Wednesday’s trade with Chicago, overcame a frightening cancer scare while he was in high school.
“I remember looking at my mom for I don’t know how long in disbelief,” Quinn recalled when he received the Piccolo award. “More in shock. I mean, you try being 17 and they tell you you’ve got a week [to live]. After a couple days, I kind of came to grips with it. I was trying to go out as happy as possible.”
Trying to go out happy. Can you imagine?
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Fortunately, that was a worst-case scenario and Quinn’s brain tumor proved to be benign rather than malignant as doctors feared, and he has gone on to a healthy and successful life. He comes to Philadelphia hoping for a chance at a long playoff run, something he’s not had in his career. Here are some other things to know about Quinn, who figures to be a rotational piece at defensive end.
Quinn was the No. 14 pick in a solid first round of the 2011 draft which included Cam Newton, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, Tyron Smith, and J.J. Watt. The Eagles took Danny Watkins at No. 23 overall, but he was gone after two seasons.
He’s been named to three Pro Bowls (2012, 2013, 2021) and was the 2013 PFWA defensive player of the year. Finished a distant fourth in the official DPOY voting behind winner Luke Kuechly, Robert Mathis, and Earl Thomas.
Was ranked No. 48 prior to this season among the top 100 players by his NFL peers. Has just one sack and three QB hits this year after posting 18 1/2 and 22 respectively last season.
Quinn has played in 83 of 88 possible games over the last six years, and has missed just two games since turning 30 years old.
Was diagnosed with a brain tumor during his senior year at Fort Dorchester in North Charleston, S.C. The tumor blocked his spinal cavity which caused swelling in the brain. Quinn was stricken by occasional confusion and fainting spells before it was diagnosed and treated. “All he could do was hug me,” his mother, Maria, told the News & Observer in 2008. “I was worried about his life,” his father Robert said.
Played 68% of the defensive snaps in the Bears’ first seven games. That’s down from the 77% he appeared in last season.
Snap percentage among the rotation of Eagles edge rushers through six games: Haason Reddick (69%), Josh Sweat (64%), Brandon Graham (43%), Patrick Johnson (17%), and Tarron Jackson (7%).
Quinn’s mother is Puerto Rican, and his sister, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles at the Olympics last summer for Puerto Rico. Quinn watched the event with teammates and coaches while the Bears were at training camp and was understandably emotional afterward. “She’s going against everyone in the world,” he said, “and beat ‘em.”
Quinn and his wife Christina have two children. His Instagram handle is @puertoricanbobby.
Has always been a popular teammate, and has grown into a mentor. Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith was visibly choked up when he heard that Quinn had been traded to Philadelphia.
Quinn was given the nickname “Black Lightning” by former Rams teammate and former Eagle, Chris Long, who was among those who carried Quinn off the field when he tied the Rams’ single-season record for sacks in 2013. Quinn set the record the following week with No. 19. (Aaron Donald broke it in 2018 with 20 1/2.)
Quinn played at the University of North Carolina and brought down Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor for his first career college sack. His first pro sack was of Eli Manning. Quinn has sacked Russell Wilson 14 times.
Quinn was permanently suspended by North Carolina for his junior year (2010) for accepting jewelry and other improper benefits.
Is 0-2 in games at Lincoln Financial Field, losing in 2014 with the Rams, and in 2019 with the Cowboys. Sacked Carson Wentz in that 2019 game.
Becomes the fourth Eagle with a surname beginning with the later Q, joining DT Elijah Qualls (2017), DE Bill Quinlan (1963), and radio analyst and team Hall of Fame WR Mike Quick (1982-90).
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Quinn signed a 5-year, $70 million contract with the Bears in 2020. According to Spotrac.com, he received a $3 million signing bonus and $30 million guaranteed. He and the Eagles already have reportedly agreed to nullify the final two years of the deal which would make him a true rental for the final 11 games and potential postseason. Quinn has earned $112.6 million in career salary since entering the league 12 seasons ago.
Quinn’s two highest sack totals came when he was 23 years old (19 in 2013) and when he was 31 years old (18 1/2 in 2021).
Quinn’s 102.0 career sacks are tied with Aaron Donald for 55th all-time. He has 2 1/2 sacks fewer than more celebrated draft classmate J.J. Watt, though he has played in 22 more games.
The Eagles will be Quinn’s fifth team in his 12 seasons. His career sacks by team: Rams 62 1/2 in seven seasons. Dolphins 6 1/2 in one season, Cowboys 11 1/2 in one season, Bears 21 1/2 in three seasons. Also was traded for a fourth-round pick in 2018 when the Rams sent him to Miami.
Quinn is 0-2 in the playoffs, losing in the wild-card round with the Rams following the 2017 season (to Atlanta) and with the Bears in 2020 (to New Orleans). Only three times in his previous 12 seasons have his teams had a winning record after six games. He’s never been on an NFL squad that was 6-0, though his new Eagles teammates all can say the same thing. Closest is A.J. Brown, who was 5-0 with Tennessee in 2020.