Two respected NFL coaches wanted a chance at Cowboys' defensive coordinator job but didn't get it
The Dallas Cowboys have yet to hire the defensive coordinator that will replace Dan Quinn in 2024 and perhaps, beyond. It seems the Cowboys are working with a shortlist of candidates for now, which has Ron Rivera and Mike Zimmer as the lone outside coaches that were interviewed for the role, at least that we […]
The Dallas Cowboys have yet to hire the defensive coordinator that will replace Dan Quinn in 2024 and perhaps, beyond.
It seems the Cowboys are working with a shortlist of candidates for now, which has Ron Rivera and Mike Zimmer as the lone outside coaches that were interviewed for the role, at least that we know of.
On Monday, A to Z Sports' own Will Steele revealed he's hearing that Zimmer is the coach that ownership is pushing for, which shouldn't be a surprise considering the history between the front office and the head coach.
Recently, I wrote about the five biggest reasons why Zimmer could be the right man for the job, headlined by the fact that he'd command an aggressive defense that uses disguised coverages and heavy A-gap blitzing.
According to Will Steele on his A to Z Sports' daily morning show on the Cowboys, McCarthy is pushing for the other guy on the race, though.
"Mike (McCarthy) seems fine with Rivera, there really isn't much pushback from what I'm being told," Steele said.
Zimmer and Rivera are the likeliest candidates for the job as of right now, argued Steele while acknowledging things could change over the course of the week.
It seems like Zimmer is getting the front office's backing while Rivera is getting McCarthy's. Who wins out? The coach on a contract year that's considered to be on one of the hottest seats inn the league? Or the family running the business?
Mike Vrabel and Wink Martindale were interested in the job
One of the biggest questions about the Cowboys' search for a DC was why they didn't interview Wink Martindale and Mike Vrabel. It seems like both were legitimately interested in the gig.
"I'm also being told that Vrabel and Wink Martindale both wanted a chance to talk but they're not getting it," Steele added on the show.
Wink Martindale is an odd omission on the Cowboys' coaching search. He's a respected defensive mind with a very aggressive style of defense, where man coverage and blitzing are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. An interview wouldn't have hurt anybody.
As for Vrabel, at least it makes some sense given where McCarthy is at. He probably doesn't one someone who could be a serious HC candidate looking over his shoulder.
"I don't know where that final decision is coming from," Steele admitted. "But you just wonder, head coach on a one-year, prove it deal, get a guy here like Mike Vrabel, former head coach, he seems a bit more likely to be a head coach type than Ron Rivera."
Although this is just speculation, it would make sense for McCarthy to be opposed to adding Vrabel to the staff as it would make his job feel even less safe ahead of 2024.
The Cowboys are expected to make a decision before Super Bowl LVIII but doubts remain on whether or not news will break since the NFL usually prefers the news cycle to be all about the Big Game.
5 reasons why Mike Zimmer is the right man for the Cowboys DC job
Biggest one is clear.
