The Dallas Cowboys' search for a defensive coordinator is about to ramp up significantly during the week of Super Bowl LVIII. Per multiple reports, the team will proceed with interviews for the position starting on Monday. 

That won't include Joe Whitt Jr., however. The former Cowboys passing game coordinator was reportedly considered the top in-house candidate and had an interview for the vacant position on Monday. 

That all went down the drain late Sunday night when it was reported Whitt Jr. was following Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders after all, per Steve Wyche from NFL Network.

So what's next for the Cowboys' defensive coordinator search? 

Considering Whitt Jr. was seen as one of the likeliest Quinn replacements long before the latter left for a head coaching gig, the news brings a lot of clarity to the Cowboys' search. Although their in-house candidates are solid options for a promotion, it's tough to see them as the favorites when we know how much the front office values experience. 

The Cowboys will now proceed with the rest of their interviews, which we currently know include in-house candidates Al Harris (DB coach) and Aden Durde (DL coach). Both of these coaches are beloved within the team and would make sense from a continuity point of view. 

Additionally, the Cowboys are looking at outside candidates, mostly Mike Zimmer and Ron Rivera. Bryan Broaddus from 105.3 The Fan has also hinted at Martin Winkdale being "in the mix." 

However, it would seem like Zimmer has emerged as the top candidate for the job. Dallas Morning News' David Moore usually has a pretty strong feel for what the Jones family is thinking and he recently published a story on why the former Minnesota Vikings head coach makes sense.

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Zimmer emerging as the favorite fits with what we've known for a long time: He's well-regarded within the building. Since he coached the Cowboys early in the 2000s, he's stuck around in their minds.

The Cowboys considered him for DC in 2021 before eventually landing on Dan Quinn. In a season where the Cowboys are supposedly aiming to go "all in" in 2024, it's common sense to bring somebody who can adapt to what's on deck like Zimmer. 

His aggressiveness, although it looks different than Quinn's, would fit the Cowboys' defensive philosophy quite well. For now, though, we wait. Interviews have yet to happen and there's a lot that can go down in those in terms of somebody impressing (or disappointing) the top brass. 

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