DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Mike Nolan era in Dallas is over after just one season, the Cowboys announced Friday afternoon.
Additionally, the team announced that they were parting ways with defensive line coach Jim Tomsula.
"I am appreciative of my relationships with both Mike and Jim, and I am grateful for the contributions that both of them made to our team under difficult circumstances in 2020," said coach Mike McCarthy. "These are never easy decisions to make, and we wish them, and their families, the very best in the future."
Nolan was in charge of arguably the worst defense in the history of the franchise. His unit allowed a franchise-record 473 points, the second-most yards in Cowboys history (6,183), and the run defense ranked 31st out of the 32 teams in the NFL.
Thanks to massive improvements in the final month of the season, the numbers weren't as bad as they could have been. Those improvements, however, weren't enough to save Nolan or Tomsula's jobs.
Nolan's departure isn't all that surprising considering the clues the organization has given us over the last several days regarding his future.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dodged questions about Nolan's potential return in his final appearance of the season on 105.3 The Fan earlier this week. And coach McCarthy said on Friday that they were "working on" determining his and other members of the coaching staff's fates.
"We're working on all the coaches, frankly. That’s what this process is about. You got to take the emotion out of the disappointment of what 6-10 is. It’s important to put everything on the table. It's the same (process) I've done every year as a head coach, and I think you have to do it this way," McCarthy said on Shan and RJ when asked if Nolan will return.
105.3 The Fan's Jeff Cavanaugh speculates that George Edwards, the team's current senior defensive assistant, will be among the candidates the Cowboys will consider to take over at defensive coordinator.