Quinlan played college football at Michigan State University and was selected in the third round of the 1956 NFL draft.

[1] After graduating high school in 1951, Quinlan attended Staunton Military Academy in 1952 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.

In 1963, The Packers traded Quinlan and defensive back John Symank to the New York Giants for a high draft pick.

The Giants immediately traded Quinlan to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for defensive end Gene Gossage.

He is also survived by his grandchildren Melissa, Lauren and her Husband Jason Messina, and Michael Tulley, Shannon and Kailee Joncas, and Ryan and Sophia Quinlan.