Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Cowboys Zimmer On Future: ''I Don't Know!'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Fisher | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 10:54 AM ET

FRISCO - Mike Zimmer has a future in wedded bliss.

Is he also happy enough with the Dallas Cowboys to want back in for another year?

Model Katarina Elizabeth Miketin, the long-time sweetheart of the veteran NFL coach, took to Instagram on Friday to reveal her engagement to the Cowboys defensive coordinator, who signed on here under the terms of an unusual one-year because of his relationship with the Jones family.

But now that contract is over. And while Zimmer is sure of his love for Miketin, he's frankly unsure of what he wants to do professionally.

"Five years ago they told us we needed to meet … God knew what He was doing,” Miketin wrote on social media. “I thank Him for you, my best friend … so, of course… I said Yes!”

That is a lovely thing for Zimmer, 68, who loves to promote his reputation as a hard-nosed "jerk,'' as he will playfully put it. But over the course of our 30-year association with him, we've also known him to be a loving husband and father and grandfather ...

And not all that much of a jerk.

The touching announcement came on the eve of the Cowboys closing out their regular season against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium in what turned our to be a loss.

It was emotional for all involved, as like head coach Mike McCarthy, Zimmer is will enter the offseason facing questions about his coaching future.

Said Zimmer when asked about his Dallas-related wishes: "I don't know, we'll see. (It will) take me a while. We'll see."

McCarthy is on the final season of his five-year deal, while Zimmer - a long-time associate of the Jones family who got his start in NFL coaching in Dallas in 1995 - knew he might be a short-termer here.

Zimmer was married to wife Vikki for 27 years before she passed away from natural causes in October of 2009. He also lost an adult son, Adam - himself an NFL coach - two years ago.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: