Former Jets and Bills head coach Rex Ryan is reportedly interviewing for the coordinator position of the Cowboys defense. The search for a replacement for Dan Quinn, who recently became head coach of the Commanders, has taken an unexpected turn. Despite considering former head coaches for the role, Ryan’s interview has garnered attention. With a background as a defensive coach, Ryan’s experience as a defensive line coach for the Ravens and defensive coordinator for the Ravens could make him a qualified candidate. However, his previous stints as head coach with the Jets and Bills were less successful.
Recently, Ryan has been working as an analyst for ESPN. After the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the Packers, Ryan criticized the team’s defense and defended quarterback Dak Prescott against blame. Dallas seems to be prioritizing an experienced coach for the defense, although they did interview defensive line coach Aden Durde, who has no previous coordinator experience.
The Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator has been eventful, with candidates coming and going quickly. Mike Zimmer, Ron Rivera, and Aden Durde are scheduled for interviews in the coming days.
DALLAS EYEING EXPERIENCED COACHES FOR HEAD COACH POSITION
In a surprising turn of events, it was reported on Monday that Dallas is considering two experienced coaches to potentially take over as head coach. One of the candidates is Ron Rivera, who interestingly enough, was previously replaced by current head coach Dan Quinn in Washington. Rivera boasts an impressive nine years of experience as head coach of the Panthers and an additional four years as head coach of the Commanders.
Before his head coaching stints, Rivera served as a defensive coordinator for the Bears from 2004-2006 and for the Chargers from 2008-2010. His wealth of experience makes him a strong contender for the position.
The other candidate being considered is former coach Mike Zimmer, who has a longstanding history with the Cowboys dating back to the Dave Campo era. Zimmer remained as the defensive coordinator when Bill Parcells took over in 2003 and held the role from 2000-2006. After his time with the Cowboys, Zimmer went on to serve as a defensive coordinator for the Falcons in 2007 and the Bengals from 2008-2013. In 2014, he was appointed as the head coach of the Vikings, a position he held until the end of the 2021 season.
Bringing in a defensive coordinator with extensive head coaching experience may create some discomfort for current head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy is currently in the final year of his contract and is under pressure to perform in the upcoming 2024 season. Although McCarthy has achieved a 42-25 record in his four years as head coach of the Cowboys, his playoff record stands at a disappointing 1-3. Despite speculation that the coordinator job may be unattractive due to McCarthy’s contract situation, owner Jerry Jones has dismissed these concerns.
Jones stated, “I don’t anticipate that being an issue at all. If they take the job, they will be coordinator of the Cowboys. They would be looking at that right there and all that goes with that. If they’re aspiring, they know there’s a chance to be a head coach someplace because the one that just left is.”
With McCarthy’s future uncertain, there is also the possibility that he may be replaced and one of the aforementioned candidates, such as Rivera, Zimmer, or Ryan, could be promoted to the head coaching position in Dallas. The decision rests in the hands of the Cowboys organization as they aim to make the best choice for the team’s future.