The Cowboys are exploring adding a voice from outside the building, valuing candidates with head coach experience. Here’s a look at where the Cowboys stand with some of their potential candidates.Ron Rivera is slated to meet with the Cowboys next week, a person familiar with the situation told The News.He worked as Washington’s coach from 2020 to 2023, a tenure that immediately followed a nine-year run at the Carolina Panthers’ helm. Rivera, 62, last coordinated for the San Diego Chargers’ defense in 2010.
Joe Whitt Jr.
For weeks, the belief within the Cowboys organization was that if any current assistant stood to replace Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator in the event Quinn left, it would be Joe Whitt Jr.
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Whitt Jr., 45, has spent 14 years coaching on a McCarthy-led staff. A 15th is not promised.
Whitt will interview to become Quinn’s defensive coordinator in Washington, a person close to the matter told The Dallas Morning News.
Whitt arrived in Dallas at the same time Quinn did, both coming from the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. He worked as the Cowboys’ secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator the past three years.
DETROIT.MI – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Mike Zimmer of the Minnesota Vikings watches his team…
DETROIT.MI – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Mike Zimmer of the Minnesota Vikings watches his team at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)(Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Mike Zimmer
A person with knowledge of Zimmer’s intent has told The News he’s definitely interested in the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator job.
Zimmer was a long-time coach for the Cowboys before leaving to become the defensive coordinator in Atlanta and Cincinnati and then Vikings’ head coach from 2014-21.
He maintains strong ties to the Jones family and has built a relationship of mutual respect with McCarthy from their years of going against each other in the NFC North when McCarthy was in Green Bay.
Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris pumps up fans after an NFL football game on…
Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris pumps up fans after an NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Landover, Md.. The Cowboys defeated the Commanders 38-10.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Other potential candidates
Al Harris: Harris has been coaching Cowboys defensive backs since 2020. He played 14 seasons in the NFL from 1998-2011. He has at least one vote for defensive coordinator, as CB Trevon Diggs tweeted “Al Harris for DC” after the news of Quinn’s departure.
Mike Vrabel: The Titans fired Vrabel as their head coach earlier this month. For years, he and Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones have worked alongside each other on the NFL Competition Committee, affording the organization a window into how Vrabel carries himself and processes the game.
Brandon Staley: The Chargers fired Staley as their head coach in December. He led the Chargers to a 24-24 record over three seasons and a playoff appearance in 2022. He was the defensive coordinator for the Rams in
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Whitt Jr., 45, has spent 14 years coaching on a McCarthy-led staff. A 15th is not promised.
Whitt will interview to become Quinn’s defensive coordinator in Washington, a person close to the matter told The Dallas Morning News.
Whitt arrived in Dallas at the same time Quinn did, both coming from the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. He worked as the Cowboys’ secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator the past three yearsA person with knowledge of Zimmer’s intent has told The News he’s definitely interested in the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator job.
Zimmer was a long-time coach for the Cowboys before leaving to become the defensive coordinator in Atlanta and Cincinnati and then Vikings’ head coach from 2014-21. He maintains strong ties to the Jones family and has built a relationship of mutual respect with McCarthy from their years of going against each other in the NFC North when McCarthy was in Green Bay.
