The Dallas Cowboys knew the era. Dan Quinn Being their defensive coordinator had its limits. Quinn was consistently involved in discussions for a head coaching role, eventually landing with the Washington Commanders. The city of Dallas is currently looking for a new DC, and has reportedly already interviewed two candidates.
According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, both Ron Rivera and mike zimmer I have been interviewing for the position. Both are former head coaches, with Rivera fired by Washington after this season and Zimmer most recently with the Minnesota Vikings.
“The Cowboys met with Mike Zimmer today for the vacant defensive coordinator position,” Watkins said via X. “Ron Rivera met yesterday, a person briefed on the process said. @dmn_cowboys”
Watkins then added in his report that current defensive line coach Aden Durde was also interviewed.
Zimmer will be away from the NFL in 2021 after eight years as the head coach at the University of Minnesota. His last time as defensive coordinator was in the 2013 season, when he played for the Cincinnati Bengals.Reports surfaced about him be interested in work on Thursday.
As for Rivera, he will essentially be replacing Quinn. He is the longtime head coach of the NFL's Washington and Carolina Panthers. Rivera served as the defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers for just three seasons from 2008 to 2010.
Jerry Jones not worried about DC hires despite signing Mike McCarthy
Several Cowboys officials claim that the team will do its “all in” to make the playoffs this season. One of those players is Jerry Jones, who decided to stay one more season in Dallas with head coach Mike McCarthy due to his expiring contract.
There were also questions about whether hiring a defensive coordinator would be difficult due to McCarthy's contract situation. If the Cowboys decided to revamp their coaching staff after 2024, DC would only have spent one season.
But Jones didn't seem too worried, saying this was a unique opportunity to showcase their abilities and that he could potentially return to a head coaching role.
“I don't expect that to be an issue at all,” Jones said Sunday, according to the team's website. “If they get the job, they'll be the Cowboys coordinator. They'll see it right there, and everything that comes with it. If they're willing. , I know there's a chance to be a head coach somewhere, because there's someone who just left.”
