Latest Cowboys’ coaching hire took place after another candidate turned it down, but that’s not a bad thing
The Dallas Cowboys hired ILB coach Scott Symons earlier in the week. But someone else had an opportunity to take the job.
The Dallas Cowboys received a well-deserved round of applause earlier in the week when they hired Scott Symons as their inside linebackers coach. But according to insider Clarence Hill Jr., he wasn’t their first choice for the job.
Instead, it was one of the nine candidates they interviewed for their defensive coordinator opening before settling on Christian Parker.
Cowboys offered LB coach to someone else
Zach Orr, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, “had an opportunity to take” the Cowboys inside linebacker job, according to insider Clarence Hill Jr. from DLLS Sports.
Instead, he chose to join the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks with the same title. His decision resulted on the Cowboys hiring Symons, formerly SMU’s defensive coordinator. Orr also interviewed for the Cowboys DC opening earlier in the year.
The fact that the Cowboys didn’t get their preferred choice isn’t a bad thing. Symons is a creative coach who helped turn around the Mustangs program in recent years. His use of disguised coverages and simulated pressures yielded one of the best defenses in college football, and he fits Parker’s vision for the Cowboys’ new-look defense.
Recently, our own college football expert AJ Schulte described Symons as “the driving force behind SMU’s resurgence in the ACC.”
Win-win for everyone
For Symons, staying in Dallas sounds great. The Cowboys get an energetic coach from the collegiate ranks. And meanwhile, Orr heads to the Mike Macdonald-led Seahawks defense, which was remarkable in both regular and postseason play.
After mixed results leading the Ravens, it will be a great opportunity for Orr to raise his stock once again and position himself to lead an NFL defense in no time.
Orr will go from DC candidate to NFC foe immediately. Though it wouldn’t be quite the revenge game, the Cowboys and Seahawks will face each other in the 2026 regular season.
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