dallas – There was a lot of speculation, but now it's officially announced. The Dallas Cowboys are set to hire Mike Zimmer as the team's new defensive coordinator.
Zimmer and the Cowboys have had a close relationship in recent days, but the terms of the deal were officially announced on Monday.
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 28: Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer looks on before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 28, 2021 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Zimmer, 67, served as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2006 and was the team's defensive coach until the mid-1990s.
The former Minnesota Vikings head coach will replace Dan Quinn, who left the Cowboys to take the head coaching job with the Washington Commanders.
ESPN analyst and former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has speculated that Zimmer and the Cowboys may not be as close to a deal as originally reported.
Ryan, who interviewed for the defensive coordinator job during Sunday's Super Bowl, said Zimmer was not officially signed.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said Monday that the Cowboys have reached out to Ryan again about the position.
The Cowboys signed Zimmer after Jerry Jones and the team's leaders returned from the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
Zimmer is expected to officially begin work in Dallas later this week.
