FEBRUARY 12: Despite it being learned over the past two days that Ryan was still in the running for the job, the Cowboys have indeed gone with Zimmer for their DC post. The parties reached agreement on Monday, Pelissero reports. Zimmer will thus make his return to where his NFL coaching career began, and take on his first pro position since 2021. Ryan, meanwhile, is poised to spend another year out of the coaching ranks.
FEBRUARY 11: Gehlken reports the Cowboys-Zimmer agreement has still not been finalized, something echoed by Ryan on ESPN’s NFL Countdown (video link). The latter said he contacted head coach Mike McCarthy about the Dallas DC vacancy, which set up his interview with the team. While a long-awaited return to the coaching ranks on Ryan’s part would come as a surprise given last week’s reporting, Zimmer’s hire does not appear to be a lock at this point.
FEBRUARY 8: The Cowboys looked at a number of candidates to replace Dan Quinn at defensive coordinator, and they’ve finally settled on their choice. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys are expected to hire Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, there are some “logistics to [be] completed,” but Zimmer is the choice for the job.
Since he was fired as Vikings head coach following the 2021 campaign, Zimmer has been away from the NFL. He had a brief stint as a consultant at Jackson State in 2022, and it was assumed that the veteran coach would eventually look to return to the big leagues. Ultimately, he’ll land with the organization that gave him his first NFL gig back in 1994.
Zimmer started as a defensive assistant in Dallas, but it only took him a year before he earned a promotion to defensive backs coach. He earned a promotion to defensive coordinator when Dave Campo took over as head coach in 2000, and he stuck around the organization when the Cowboys pivoted to Bill Parcells in 2003. After more than a decade in Dallas, he had a one-year stint as the Falcons defensive coordinator before moving to the Bengals, where he’d serve as the DC for the next six years.
Thanks to his defensive track record, Zimmer was named the Vikings head coach in 2014. He ended up spending eight seasons in Minnesota, guiding the Vikings to three playoff appearances. This included a 2017 campaign where the Vikings went 13-3 in the regular season before falling to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
While the wheels never completely fell off in Minnesota, the Vikings went 15-18 between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He was fired following that 2021 campaign, ending his Vikings tenure with a 72-56-1 record.
The Cowboys job was certainly an enticing opportunity for Zimmer as he looked to return to the NFL. Dallas finished in the top seven in scoring defense during each of Quinn’s three seasons calling plays, and the unit had perhaps their most productive season in 2023. The Cowboys defense finished this past season having allowed the fifth-fewest yards and fifth-fewest points in the NFL.
While Quinn turned down previous head coaching opportunities, he left the Cowboys for the Commanders earlier this month. The Cowboys quickly looked to replace their departed coach. The team considered a number of inside candidates for promotions, including defensive line coach Aden Durde, cornerbacks coach Al Harris, and defensive backs coach Joe Whitt, who ended up joining Quinn as the DC in Washington. In addition to Zimmer, the outside candidates included Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel, former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, and former Jets head coach Rex Ryan.
Predictable move. I would have thought Rex Ryan. Ryan and his fire of a personality would have given Dallas a sense of urgency.
No one wanted the blow hard that is Rex Ryan.
No one kin to Buddy Ryan should be allowed in Dallas period. And yes I know Rob has coached there. Rule should have applied then also.
Time to step outside and breathe. Being angry and bitter over a family of football guys is amusing to us but it would seem that is going to lead you to several blown gaskets.
“Time to step outside and breathe.”
doghockey- What is the point of your comment? This is the place to vent you self-righteous nerd.
Probably put his foot in his mouth in his interview.
Good hire. He’ll do well with a talented D
Seems like this hire is more about 2025 than 2024.
It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out. I wonder what Zimmer’s reaction would be if the Cowboys opted to replace McCarthy with Leslie Frazier rather than himself…lol.
I don’t care what the majority says. IMO Jerry hired Zimmer because he’s comfortable with his former coach. Being comfortable doesn’t win SBs. Jerry getting soft and zero sense of urgency in his old age. Cowboys should have hired Sean Payton.
Everything I read about Zimm leaving Minny was because he was a colossal jerk. Despised by management, the players, and even the owners got tired of him, good hire Jerry!
Kirk C has been in the league for over a decade; how many times have you seen him screaming at his HC’s? Just at Mike.
Zimmer was a good coordinator with the Bengals and a team guy. He expected grown men to do their best and give 100% and rightfully gets pissed when they don’t. I’m glad he’s getting another chance. Hopefully he’ll light a fire under the Dallas defense and they’ll actually learn to tackle and not just knock people over.
Yeah. 70 year old men screaming at 20 some multimillionaires works so well. Looks at Bill B’s record w/o Tom. Dude is a washed up loser.
Worked well during his 50s and 60s to get as many wins and super bowls as he did. Bill did his job during those years with a bend don’t break defense and Tom did his job leading the offense
Bill still put together a decent defense in NE even without Brady.
It’s crystal clear that Tom was in charge in NE, not Bill. Tom left and the organization got worse each year. And don’t forget 4 out 5 seasons in Cleveland, Bill was under .500.
Brady left for a premium gig in Tampa with oline and WRs ready plus defense.
Bills 1st year sans Tom he was like 10-7 and Brady went 13-4 in Tampa with a much better roster.
And Brady didn’t even do well his last year at 8-9 with same Tampa team.
So to say he was in charge is a bit far fetched considering Patriots were still successful with Cassel Garapollo Brissett in Brady’s absence. Both played a part in their primes in a perfect storm situation.
And like all good things it came to an end towards ends of their respective careers
I agree TB was a much better team than NE. Bill was the Pats GM for 20 years. Why was his team that badly constructed? In fact, I believe Tom compared both rosters and it was a no brainer to bolt south.
Bill is 20+ games under .500 w/o Tom. That’s a fact. Google it.
So you’re looking at his Cleveland years while Brady was in hs and college
And just ignore him winning games without Brady in New England while Brady was injured suspended whatever the case was.
How’d patriots do during games Brady actually missed during his time there?
Stat muse says there’s 85 games and they’ve won 43 lost 42
Doing a little math
Take away the
7-9 newton
10-7 jones
8-9 jones
4-13 jones
That should tell you how many games bill won during the Brady years without him as qb
Of course I’m looking at his Cleveland years. Why wouldn’t I, it’s on his resume. Just like the multiple cheating scandals that he and NE were found guilty of. Suspensions, fines, and loss of draft picks says ‘guilty’. Just like you count his rings as NYG DC, right?
No different than Sean Peyton. From google: ‘Sean Payton career record with Drew Brees: 135-76. Sean Payton career record without Drew Brees: 18-16’.
Do we simply throw away Sean being sub .500 because he doesn’t have a HoF QB either? And Denver is shaping up for at least another miserable season in 2024.
When you’re talking about calling people HoF’ers and the GOAT, you have to look at their entire career, not just cherry pick the from the good years.
As for Bill inability to scout, that’s also on him. He decided to role with a washed up Newton–fans knew he was done–and drafted Jones as well. That’s 100% on Bill, not someone else. He has been the GM for 20 years. But all of a sudden NE loses, and their fans say ‘it’s Kraft’s fault!’. Funny how Kraft was never once mentioned in 20 years of being cheap or interfering w/ roster decisions. Now he is? Nothing more than excuses for Bill, that’s it.
Belichick post-Brady: 7-9, 10-7 (one-and-done in playoffs), 8-9, 4-13.
Brady post-Belichick: 11-5 (won SB55), 13-4 (won NFC South, out 2nd round of playoffs), 8-9 (won NFC South, one-and-done in playoffs).
You have conveniently overlooked some truths about Bellichick’s time in Cleveland. He was the DC of a Super Bowl-winning team, which featured a great defense (whose success wasn’t ALL because of Lawrence Taylor), and then immediately took over an older, grossly under-talented Browns team that finished 3-13 in 1990 and started to turn things around to a surprisingly competitive 6-10 in 1991. In 1993, he moved away from the local favorite, Bernie Kosar, and still fielded a competitive team. In his fourth year, 1994, the team went 11-5 and made the playoffs, while helping to revive Vinny Testaverde’s career. His final season as Browns coach, 1995, was a cluster because of the rumors and eventual departure to Baltimore, when Art Model stabbed Browns fans and players in their hearts. Along the way, Bellichick also recognized and developed a large number of talented people who would go on to accomplish great things, Nick Saban being the prime example. So to casually state that “4 out of 5 seasons in Cleveland, Bill was under .500,” while true, conveniently overlooks the circumstances that Bellichick coached under and the accomplishments he did achieve during his tenure in Cleveland. While one can only agree that Tom Brady is an all-time great, who deserves all the praise he’s received and whose play and leadership are undeniable reasons for New England’s success for 20 seasons or so, not to acknowledge Bellichick’s contributions during that same period, or his contributions to Brady’s development, is intellectually disingenuous. Bellichick may not be the next Sean McVay (thank God), but not to give Bellichick his due is criminal.
Bill’s HC record in Cleveland starting in 1991.
6-10
7-9
7-9
11-5
5-11
That’s from pro football history.
link to pro-football-history.com
As always, excuses for Bill producing losing teams. It’s never his fault that his teams w/o Tom is under .500.
Your in-depth analysis and intellectual tenacity has changed my mind. You’re right, New England’s success is all due to Tom Brady, despite:
1.) Brady never once blocked for himself.
2.) Brady never caught any of his own passes.
3.) Brady was never the running threat Lamar Jackson or even Patrick Mahomes are.
4.) Brady never made one single tackle on defense.
5.) Brady never made or caused any turnovers on defense.
6.) Brady never once punted, placekicked, returned any kickoffs or punts, and never covered any kickoffs or punts.
Yes, as conceded previously Tom Brady was a great quarterback. For the success of the guys who played with him, and the success they achieved as a team year-in and year-out, give Bellichick his due. He was the other common denominator during New England’s successful run and not to acknowledge his guidance and leadership, let alone dismiss it with statistics without any context, is intellectually lazy and not worthy of consideration.
Now Tom isn’t all that great, Ha! Thanks for the laugh. Bill is a clown. Only Atlanta spoke with him this offseason and went w/ a younger retread HC over him.
I’d give Bill his due if he was above .500 w/o the GOAT. He’s and not even close to it. That’s over 9 seasons; not 1 or 2 I’m judging him by.
And Belichick has? Cmon where are Bills TD passes?
Respect is something everyone should practice. So, a 20 something player knows it all. There’s nothing a man who has been in the game twice as long as these guys have been alive can teach them? Strength and quickness will only get you so far without technique. Marcus Hunt is an example. So strong he could bench a semi trailer ( don’t be stupid and say “, nobody can do that”, it’s called being factitious) but he was such a bad student he never could grasp the techniques to be a good lineman. He’s stuck around because you can’t teach strength, but if he mastered technique he could have been great. Same with Billy Price. He never caught on to the nuances of playing center in the NFL,but there again,he was strong as an ox. And lastly, these young men should respect their elders, if not their betters.
It was clear as day that those young men had lost all respect for Bill last year. The drill instructor routine only works when you’re winning.
I expected the 1st year w/o Tom to be around .500, then the GOAT should be able to bounce back right? 2 out of the next 3 seasons were under .500.
He may have been a good HC, but there’s no denying he’s a terrible GM and scout of college players. Tom masked a lot of that up.
From google: Belichick has a record of just 82-98 without Brady as his quarterback after the 2023 NFL season. That’s good for a winning percentage of just . 463.
That % gets every other HC fired.
Arty, your obsession with Bill Belichick is extremely unhealthy. It’s also toxic to the other commenters to see every thread which mentions head coaches, Bill Belichick, the Patriots vandalised with your delusional rantings about BB.
Can it, would you?
If you don’t like my comments, skip over them. That’s I do with your nonsense takes on the games, players, and teams.
Arty he is right. You are a blowhard
Well said. Amen to every word you wrote. “The game has passed him by” garbage that younger fans like to pin on older coaches assumes that the knowledge and experience an older coach has is of no value. Only ignorant fools believe that crap. Older coaches still have much to offer.
“The game has passed him by” garbage that younger fans like to pin on older coaches assumes that the knowledge and experience an older coach has is of no value.”
It’s how you deliver your message that commands and earns respect. Maybe the older generation should take note.
“it’s called being factitious”
Learn to spell if you are gonna be condescending nerd.
Zimmer got distracted by his Instagram model g/f his last couple of years in Minnesota – but is actually a pretty good defensive coach.
To be fair, she would have distracted me as well!
Arty! Gross old man. Your wife would be ashamed. oh wait, you? A wife? Hahaha
We just celebrated our 20th anniversary in January. Thanks for asking. You never did answer how many 6 figure jobs you had. I told you my count. Man up.
Multiple jobs Arty? Haha wear out your welcome old man.
I’m a CPA Arty. I do not have a boss. I do quite well making money off insecure wannabe entrepreneurs like you. I know your type. Entitled blowhards.
Please quit lying about yourself. You are too old to try to make your sad life into something now. Please enjoy your twilight years before you drop off and are forever forgotten old man.
I own you! Keep commenting on my comments. I love seeing a loser ‘hate me’ but just can’t stay away from my comments. I really don’t care what you want to believe about me, you’re a jealous loser.
The average wage for a COPA is $60K, wow! Now go be a good employee and get off sports sites.
Belichek has always ridden his superstar players 4 his success. Anybody would look like defensive guru w/Lawrence Taylor as your edge rusher, how he got on coaching map. Didn’t have Tom or LT in Clev, also didn’t have other teams scripted plays or tape of their walk through prac. Doesn’t pass the eye test GOAT if u analyze his #s pre- n post- Brady.
Are there any “WIN FOR ZIM” banners from 2000 still around that the Cowboys can hang in the stadium?