FRISCO, TEXAS — With Dan Quinn leaving Dallas to take the head coaching job in Washington, the Dallas Cowboys are looking for a new defensive coordinator for the 2024 season and beyond.
Coach Mike McCarthy has expressed interest in his former head coach for the coordinator position, but he has also expressed high praise for the current defensive staff in the past.
The decision is expected to be a joint one between the front office and McCarthy. With that in mind, here are some candidates who could be the next defensive coordinator.
Mike Vrabel: Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who is perhaps the most popular outside candidate with a fan base, was not selected as a head coach and is likely to remain as a defensive coordinator elsewhere. He will likely have to decide whether to take a year off for evaluation. Appointed as head coach next season.
If he chooses the former, the Cowboys could be an interesting fit given their defensive needs and McCarthy's history of recruiting former head coaches to coordinator positions, especially on the defensive side of the ball. .
After winning three Super Bowls in a 14-year career, Vrabel briefly coached at Ohio State University for three seasons before making the jump to the NFL as the Houston Texans' linebackers coach in 2014. . He served in the role for three more seasons and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018. His one-year stint as coordinator gave him the opportunity to coach the Titans for five seasons, leading them to an AFC Championship Game appearance and earning one AP Coach of the Year award.
Mike Zimmer: Mike Zimmer, who spent five years as a defensive assistant and seven years as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys from 1994 to 2006, could be named as a defensive coach again in 2024. Zimmer has eight years of experience as a head coach. He spent several seasons in Minnesota, gaining 14 seasons of experience as an NFL defensive coordinator.
Zimmer is friends with McCarthy, having played against him numerous times in the NFC North during McCarthy's time with the Packers, and the two have publicly expressed their admiration for each other in the past. Most notably, after Zimmer was fired by Green Bay in 2018, he expressed support for McCarthy, calling the Packers' decision “sad” and a “mistake.”
Ron Rivera: Washington swap? That's certainly a possibility, as former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera remains on the open market for a defensive coordinator opportunity. Rivera met with the Eagles before Philadelphia moved to hire Vic Fangio, but he could remain in the NFC East and have a realistic chance of coming to Dallas.
In 2021, Rivera said Mike McCarthy made a “big mistake” in guaranteeing a victory for the Commanders in the week leading up to the matchup, but the two sides have largely respected each other thus far. .
Rivera was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers, and was the head coach of the Carolina Panthers and Commanders. Rivera interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching job in 2007, but at the time owner decided to hire Wade Phillips instead.
Al Harris: Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris, one of three internal candidates to be promoted to defensive coordinator, is a popular candidate for the promotion among the fan base. After a 14-year career in the NFL, Harris jumped into the coaching world as an intern with the Miami Dolphins in 2012, before taking a position as assistant defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013 to 2018.
Harris was hired by the Cowboys in 2020 and has since been credited with playing a major role in developing Trevon Diggs and Darron Brand into All-Pro cornerbacks. Elevating Harris, a popular member of the locker room staff, would be a huge morale boost after losing Quinn.
Joe Witt Jr.: Another in-house candidate, secondary coach and passing game coordinator Joe Witt Jr. I once said His two dreams are to be the head coach at the University of South Florida or to be the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.
His influence on the secondary has led to Trevon Diggs (2021) and Daron Brand (2023) leading the NFL in interceptions during his era and Dallas being the consistent leader in the league in takeaways. contributed greatly.
Whitt, who has been an NFL defensive coach since 2007, has joined the coaching staffs of the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, and has been with the Dallas Cowboys since 2021.
Aden Durde: Current Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde could also be a legitimate option for an internal promotion after spending three seasons in Dallas. The development of his defensive line has turned Micah Parsons into a perennial All-Pro, DeMarcus Lawrence into an elite run defender, and Osa Odighizuwa into a polished inside pass rusher.
His expertise is there up front, and the Cowboys could gain more attention heading into the 2024 season with impending free agency on the defensive line.
Dard began his coaching career in his native England with a six-year stint as defensive coordinator for the London Warriors in the BAFA National League, where he won multiple national titles. His NFL career began with Dan Quinn as the defensive quality control coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 and was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2020. He has been working with the Cowboys since 2021.
Brandon Staley: Former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley remains on the market after being fired midway through the Chargers' disappointing 5-12 season. His time with the Chargers didn't go as planned, but his limited experience as a coordinator paid off in a big way.
Prior to joining the Chargers, Staley served as the Rams' defensive coordinator for one season, leading a defense that led the NFL in scoring and total yards allowed. Prior to his time in Los Angeles, he had an extensive collegiate career, serving as the outside linebackers coach for both the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears.
Wink Martindale: Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who recently parted ways with the New York Giants, remains on the open market as a potential option.
Martindale's NFL coaching career began in 2004 as linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders for five seasons, and he held the same position with the Denver Broncos in 2009. Denver would promote Martindale to its first defensive coordinator position in 2010.
For the next decade, Martindale would spend four seasons as the linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, winning a Super Bowl with a team that included Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, before being promoted to defensive coordinator in Baltimore. . He was then hired by Brian Daboll to be New York's defensive coordinator in 2022, a position he held until January 10th.
