“I think I probably needed a little bit of time off because I had some things going on in my family, and it was important to me to take the time to help the rest of my family in those situations,” Zimmer said. Told. “I understood right away [Dallas] It was a great opportunity. Another club approached me. This was where I wanted to come. ”
That comfort level extends beyond just within the front office, which he once held from 1994 to 2006, when Zimmer coached against McCarthy and the opposing NFC North foes, the Packers, in Minnesota. Mike McCarthy has a wealth of experience.
“microphone [McCarthy] “We had a great conversation on the phone,” he said.I always felt at home with Stephen and Jerry. [Jones]. They have been a great addition to my family since I've been here. There was never any question as to whether I wanted to be here. I can't think of 32 teams that I really wanted to be on more than this one. ”
For McCarthy, the opportunity to have a friend and trusted confidant with coaching experience was huge. Bringing Zimmer back to the team in 2024 made sense for both sides.
“It felt like we had two buckets in terms of individuals tied to the existing defense, but then it was important to look at former head coaches. “It shows that it's a perceived preference,” McCarthy said. “And then I got a chance to sit down and talk to Mike and I thought it was an incredible fit for us.”
Zimmer will be the first to talk about what has changed since he was last in Dallas.
He is known for being tough on his players (a style he's still proud of in 2024) and that it led to players like Pac-Man Jones and Xavier Rhodes being tough on him during his career. He looked back on what kind of influence he had and how the two showed their love through their time with Zimmer. It's an approach he's looking forward to adopting in the locker room over the next few weeks to get the most out of his next project in Dallas.
“I've been doing this for a long time,” Zimmer said. “So I'm excited to try to get as far as I can so the players can get better, the team can get better, the group can get better. That's what I want to do. “I reflected on a lot of things about my time in Minnesota,” he said. “Through those eight years, I felt like I did well, and I felt like I didn't do very well. How can I become a better coach in the future?” I’m trying to figure out if I can become one.”
While evolving with the NFL's ever-changing atmosphere, especially as he tries to preserve modern offenses and their diversity, Zimmer is looking to do some things the same way he did when he was a 37-year-old first-time assistant. will continue to be highly valued. 1994. For him, that's what allows him to be the coach he is now and reach his full potential in his second stint with the Cowboys.
“Competitiveness. Being technique-oriented. Being basic. Being disciplined. That's what makes me grumpy.”
