The Dallas Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer as their defensive playcaller on Thursday evening. Just six days after losing former DC Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders, Dallas has found his replacement. The former Cowboys Defensive Coordinator now finds himself in familiar shoes. Here’s what fans can expect from their new Defensive Coordinator.
Cowboys hire Mike Zimmer as Defensive Coordinator
A storied history
The Cowboys and Mike Zimmer go way back. He previously coached in Dallas from 1994-2006, wearing hats such as Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs Coach, and eventually Defensive Coordinator. Zimmer had talents like Deion Sanders, Dat Nguyen and Darren Woodson at his disposal. While the Dallas Cowboys of 2024 will look very different than the 90’s squad, coach Zimmer has a chance to turn back the clock.
Yes, Zimmer has a Cowboys Super Bowl ring. Since the retirement of former Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner, Zimmer is the only coach in today’s NFL that can boast that honor.
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense began struggling mightily toward the end of the season. Jerry Jones wasted no time going back to the well to find their defensive guru. A team reunion should bring a much-needed fire to both Mike Zimmer and the Cowboys’ defense.
A passion for the game
Zimmer will inherit a defense that includes two finalists for Defensive Player of the Year in Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland. Trevon Diggs will also be returning from an untimely ACL injury. While there are questions at D-line and Linebacker, Zimmer has some chess pieces at his fingertips. It’s not ridiculous to assume that his passion for the game can elevate them further than Dan Quinn did.
Spend one minute on YouTube with “Mike Zimmer” in the search bar, and you’ll see what I’m on about. Zimmer is vocal, emotional, and not afraid to get in a player’s face. This factor is what Dallas’ 2023 defensive core was missing.
Mike Zimmer has a chance to teach discipline and perfection through a storied history with the team. He’s already earned his respect as far as Jerry Jones goes. His passion for the game should quickly win the players over.
Head coaching experience
Take a look around today’s NFL. Head Coaches like Todd Bowles, Bill Belichick, and DeMeco Ryans were all defensive-minded coaches at some point, and they successfully transitioned. A Defensive Coordinator with the mind of a head coach is a nearly perfect fit for Dallas’ high-powered offense.
The Cowboys interviewed several candidates for the Defensive Coordinator position but likely stuck with Mike Zimmer due to his experience. Acting as head coach for the Vikings from 2014-2021, Zimmer constructed five top-10 scoring defenses.
While it’s not the first thing on Cowboys Fans’ minds at the moment, hiring Mike Zimmer was a sneaky move by Jerry Jones. His head coaching experience makes him a fantastic all-around-the-ball style coach, but it does something else too.
Mike McCarthy…look behind you.
Mike Zimmer could take over as Cowboys Head Coach in either an emergency or an absolutely necessary situation. It’s probably not the primary reason he was signed, but it’s certainly worth consideration. Zimmer’s return to Dallas should bring back his storied history, his passion for the game, and elevate his coaching opportunities.
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