Born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Quinn first came to prominence at club level with Sarsfields.
He eventually earned a call-up to the Armagh senior football team and claimed Ulster Championship medals in 1950 and 1953.
Quinn was captain for the second of those wins and subsequently lead the team to an All-Ireland final defeat by Kerry.
[1] He also played with the Seán McDermotts club in Dublin, while his inclusion on the Ulster team saw him claim a Railway Cup medal.
[2] Quinn was named on a "Football Team of the Century" made up of players who never won an All-Ireland medal.