Post

Oh no!

Awful news. RIP to a legend.

so sorry yall. he was a real one

My condolences to his family and all who knew him. ❤️🙏

Will give out the big candy bars in Dan's memory this Halloween.

This is fucking terrible. Fuck 2026 to infinity.

This is such terrible news. Fuck cancer. My thoughts are with his family and friends. I'll miss his writing.

So sorry to hear. My thoughts are with all his friends and family. A Philly legend

A legend

Fuck. My brother was the same age. It never gets less gutting.

So sorry to hear. Condolences too all at Defector

Oh no. My condolences to all of the Defector family, his friends and family, and everyone he touched. Truly sad.

R.I.P. Dan. I'll miss the boardwalk t-shirt updates, such as this all timer (Re: Governor Andrew Cuomo) #annualnonsense

Damn. I’m so sorry. Fuck cancer.

fuck what an immense loss

An incredible writer. Immensely sad to see this

Can you please repost some of Dan’s best appearances on the podcast? They always made me grin ear to ear the entire time

Fuck cancer. Pulling for Dan's family and everyone over at Defector. Whatever measure of peace is possible in such a shit moment, I wish it for all y'all.

Goddamn, rip

Ah fuck

Terrible news to get this morning. Dan's enthusiasm and curiosity was infectious. Condolences to everyone who knew him, and especially thinking of his wife and young son.

This sucks, I always knew it was going to be a great episode of The Distraction when he was on.

May peace be with his family. RIP Dan.

So, so sorry to hear this.

Oh no. Oh no. Our hearts go out to his family, including his dad, Drew, our former colleague at the Daily News.

I can’t believe this. I loved Dan’s writing and point of view so much. Heartbroken for his family and defector family

God damn it, I'm so saddened to hear that. He was such a ray of light in a dreary world. My thoughts are with his family and friends - know that Dan's light reached across the globe

Absolutely gutting, all the best to everyone at Dan's family and Defector

One of the best to do it. A huge loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss

God this is awful. I'm so sorry for everyone who's life Dan touched.

Oh no. So bummed. A true original.

He will absolutely be missed.

defector you have me in tears. as is your right. thank you. rest in peace dan, and condolences to your family, friends and colleagues

Sincerest of Go Birds to a real one.

So sorry for your loss

Ugh, fuck. Always enjoyed a Dan blog. Condolences to all.

RIP McQuade. You will be missed. I can't be the only one who was sure he was born in the 60's.

Need to do a weird-and-specifically Philly thing in memory

So sorry for your loss

Absolute gut punch

Damn.

Oh shit that is such awful and unexpected (for me, anyway) news! Much love to the entire Defector crew and comrades everywhere, such a terrible loss.

This just sucks so bad, feel for you all. Hope there are ham trucks wherever he's going.

Condolences. He was excellent and seemed like a really cool guy. The podcast where he talked about his volunteering in kensington during the pandemic was really great and sorta helped me through all that.

Fuck. RIP

Dan seemed like such a genuinely good person. Felt like we would have been friends in another life. At least he was able to spread a lot of love and joy in the time he had. Just unfair.

Rest well, good sir. You were a kindred spirit to Philly phans everywhere.

My sympathies to his colleagues and family. My brother in law has NET, so I know what a tough hand it is to be dealt, and it looks like he had a great family and coworkers that supported him with everything they had.

What terrible news. Love to Dan's family and his Defector comrades

NO! Fuck! This is awful. He will be missed. My condolences to all of you, and to Dan’s family

Fuck. RIP Dan.

One of his best stories: defector.com/a-mall-i-lov...

Very sorry to hear this.

Horrible news. I loved hearing him on The Distraction. He had that wonderful energy that was a pleasure to listen to.

So sad to hear this. Hugs to all of you.

Oh no

Oh that's so terrible. Condolences to you all.

one of the best to ever do it

Oh, I’m so sad to hear this. So sorry for your loss.

Aw fuck. Dan and I worked together as interns at Comcast SportsNet back in 2002. His writing was a big reason I still continue to think of myself as a Philadelphian even over two decades after moving to LA. I'm gonna miss his unique passion for the esoteric things that set the city apart.

Much love to his family, a wonderful writer and clearly a wonderful friend.

God damn it.

Condolences on the passing of a good dude.

What a great loss. Every appearance Dan had on Defector or Deadspin (article, podcast, video) was a treat. I feel for you and his family.

♥️

Ah shit, man. Love to his family and all of yours.

So sorry to all y’all

For several years, I organized an alumni day for veterans of our college newspaper to come back to campus to speak to current staffers. Whenever I asked, Dan agreed to participate, happily. He always connected with the students. Condolences to his family and friends.

Dan had a sense of whimsy and joy that came through in his writing and podcasts. McQuade ruled.

Fuck cancer

Damn.

Oh no, I’m so sorry

RIP.

Devastating news. Sending love to the whole Defector family ❤️ Rest in peace, Dan.

In a world of Guys, Dan was a Dude.

Sorry for your loss. 💐

Fuck.

Just the loveliest man. I will miss him. Is there a gofundme for Jan and Simon?

This isn't how I wanted one of the OG founders of Defector to leave the website. Dan's posts all had a sweetness to them, a nice kindness, and a thoughtful inquisitiveness.

He will be missed. Sending love to all of you at my favorite website.

My sincerest condolences to his friends and family, and everyone who knew him. I never met him but always loved his work. Cancer sucks.

His stories were always an automatic read no matter the subject. Seemed like an amazing person too. Huge loss.

May his memory be a blessing. My sincerest thoughts are with his family.

💔😓

always loved his work. I will miss him.

Oh fuck, I’m truly sorry, fuck this fucking sucks

Rest in peace, Dan McQuade.

what the fuck! No!

oh no so sorry to hear this 🖤

We’re so sorry to hear this news, this is really tough. Really really tough.

Im sorry for his loss to those who knew him. He seemed nice

Terrible news, RIP Dan, condolences to his family and the Defector family.

Fuck cancer. Love and condolences to all of Dan's friends and family.

Such sad news. RIP Dan

His piece this fall about the cancer was so good. I’m so sad for all who had the luxury of knowing him.

This fucking sucks.

I am just gutted. I’m blown away by the bravery, the grace, and the spirit he maintained through it all.

😓

Oh man, sorry to the whole Defector crew… Next time I’m at a dead mall, I’ll think of McQuade.

Gutting news, Dan's writing always made me laugh. ♥️♥️ To all the Defector staff and Dan's family

RIP to one of the best ever. Fuck cancer.

This is gutting news. Much love to you guys and his family. RIP Dan.

Oh NO

To all of you : the story that Dan wrote about his cancer this fall moved me, my husband was 6 weeks away from dying of his own cancer. I got to meet Dan at a signing and was really looking forward to that dead mall book. Things turn so goddamn fast Wildwood tshirts 4ever.

brutal, and a real loss. Condolences to yall and the McQuade family