Report: Former Vikings head coach eyeing open Cowboys DC job

The Dallas Cowboys may be looking through Jerry Jones’ rolodex to find Dan Quinn’s replacement as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Quinn, who served as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for the last three seasons, was poached by an NFC East division rival. With the DC job left vacant, former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is said to be “interested in the job,” according to David Moore of Dallas Morning News.

Zimmer spent eight seasons as the Vikings head coach before he was relieved of his duties following the 2021 season. He had a career head coaching record of 72-56-1. The Vikings enjoyed their best year under Zimmer in 2017 when the team went 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship game.

Zimmer notably served as Cowboys defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2006. He was promoted to DC after spending several seasons as a defensive backs coach in what turned out to be a revolving door of head coaches for Dallas at the time. In total, Zimmer he served under four different Cowboys head coaches – Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo and Bill Parcells.

However, Zimmer isn’t the only former head coach that the Cowboys are looking at to fill the void left by Quinn. Dallas may also be looking within their division to find the team’s next DC.