Recent NFL firing should have Dallas Cowboys scheming a Plan B in case Mike Zimmer decides to retire
It would seem like the Dallas Cowboys have enough reasons to keep Mike Zimmer around at defensive coordinator. Naturally, that might change if they part ways with Mike McCarthy and consider bringing in a defensive-minded head coach. However, Zimmer himself might be the one to withdraw his name from consideration ahead of the 2025 NFL season. […]
It would seem like the Dallas Cowboys have enough reasons to keep Mike Zimmer around at defensive coordinator. Naturally, that might change if they part ways with Mike McCarthy and consider bringing in a defensive-minded head coach.
However, Zimmer himself might be the one to withdraw his name from consideration ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Micah Parsons told reporters on Sunday he though Zimmer might come back but that the coach might be ready to "ride off into the sunset." Earlier in the season, Zimmer said the year had been hard on him.
At 68 years old and with uncertainty surrounding the Cowboys in a plethora of ways, all options are on the table for Zimmer.
So if he does hang it up, what if the Cowboys consider former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was fired on Monday. After all, it was only a couple of years ago that Anarumo appeared to be a legit head coaching candidate.
For clarity on Anarumo, who I consider a strong Plan B if Zimmer hangs it up, I reached out to A to Z Sports' Bengals beat writer John Sheeran with three questions. Let's get to it.
1. Lou Anarumo appeared to be a legit head coach candidate not that long ago with how he had the Bengals defense playing. What changed between then and now so we could get to the point of him being fired this week?
Sheeran: A combination of a couple things. Bear with me here. Losing Jessie Bates III and DJ Reader wouldn’t be ideal for any defensive coordinator and Anarumo certainly didn’t want to move on from either one. He gets a pass for that, but he’s always been heavily involved with personnel decisions in terms of draft picks and free agent signings.
From 2022-24, they spent 8 top-100 picks on the defense and maybe only a couple could be considered building blocks for the unit. He was unable to correctly utilize both of the first-round picks from that stretch as well in Dax Hill and Myles Murphy. Failing to develop these resources was a huge red flag.
Anarumo also had input on the failed free agent signings of the last two years. Nick Scott, Geno Stone, Vonn Bell, Sheldon Rankins were all failures. Bell specifically was a disaster as Anarumo desperately wanted him back so he could re-institute things in his scheme that others around Bell couldn’t do. Plus, Bell was past his prime anyways. He didn’t bench Bell until it was too late, and his attachment to certain vets like him was also part of his undoing.
2. Would you consider Anarumo a strong defensive coordinator candidate for other teams and if so, what needs to be different for him to succeed again?
Sheeran: Anarumo is still a good coach when he doesn’t have to decide between aging veterans and young players who need development. Being backed by a more aggressive front office that will keep his players instead of trying to always retool in the draft would help for sure. I’m not sure if that applies for the Cowboys, but you get the picture.
3. What are Anarumo's biggest strengths as a defensive play caller that might interest other teams around the NFL such as the Cowboys if they move on from Mike Zimmer, also a former Bengals DC?
The reason why Anarumo was in the running for head coaching gigs in recent years was because his defenses would always play their best against the best quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson got the best of him recently, but beating both Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen multiple times will get you noticed. He would scheme up perfect looks to force mistakes from the game’s best.
This went away when his safety play dropped off (Bates leaving), but he still knows what levers to pull. For any team looking to contend against the powerhouses of the league, Anarumo would be an asset to have. He developed these skills as a first time DC in Cincinnati. Now he has six years of play-calling experience behind him.
