After days of uncertainty, Mike Zimmer is officially the Cowboys' next defensive coordinator.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported last week that Zimmer was tabbed to take over for Dan Quinn as Dallas' next defensive coordinator, but sources close to 105.3 The Fan's Bryan Broaddus and Shan Shariff said that financial hurdles remained and the deal wasn't complete.
Former Jets and Bills head coach Rex Ryan, who also interviewed for the vacancy, created a stir on social media when he said over the weekend that he was still in the running for the job.
“First off, I’m not so sure Zimmer has that job right now,” Ryan said on ESPN. “I’m not sure about that. I can honestly say I don't believe that's a fact right now."
All of that can be put to rest now, as Zimmer and the Cowboys put the finishing touches on a deal Monday afternoon.
"It's done. I just got a text from Mike (Zimmer)," Broaddus said on the GBag Nation.
Zimmer, 67, last coached in the NFL in 2021, his final season at the helm in Minnesota. He led Minnesota to a 72-56-1 record and made the playoffs three times, including one trip to the NFC Championship Game in his eight seasons.
Zimmer joined the Cowboys as an assistant on Barry Switzer's staff in 1994. He was the defensive backs coach from 1995-1999 before being named defensive coordinator, a position he held from 2000-2006.
Zimmer was the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator in 2007 and held the same position with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008-2013 before getting the job in Minnesota.
Zimmer spent the past two seasons working with Deion Sanders at Jackson State and Colorado.
