Texas’s Frisco The Dallas Cowboys can confirm that they have reached an agreement with Mike Zimmer to take over as the team’s next defensive coordinator. The two met on Monday afternoon, following the original announcement on Thursday night that Zimmer would be the team’s pick.
Mike McCarthy is entering the fifth and final year of his contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Zimmer, 67, is returning to the organization where he worked as a defensive coach for seven years before being the defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2006.
Even though it took many days for Zimmer to reach a mutual understanding with the club, the agreement was reached when Jerry Jones and the front management traveled to Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend. Rex Ryan, who was interviewed for the job last Tuesday, stated on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown on Sunday morning that the two were still working out the details of an agreement; but, once Jones and the front office were back in the building on Monday, the deal was inked.
Dan Quinn, who joined the Washington Commanders as head coach on February 1st, is replaced by Zimmer. Quinn has not played in the NFL since 2021. Following his departure from Dallas in 2006, Zimmer worked as the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2013, and then from 2014 to 2021, he served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He guided the Vikings to three postseasons over his eight years as head coach, including a trip to the NFC Championship Game in 2017.
Zimmer has brought multiple top-five total defense seasons to every position he has held, whether as head coach or defensive coordinator. The Cowboys finished first and fourth in total defense in 2001 and 2003, the Bengals third and fourth in 2013 and 2009, and the Vikings first, third, and fourth in 2017, 2016, and 2018, respectively.
Later this week, Zimmer is anticipated to go to Dallas in order to formally start his second term there.
