Cowboys next defensive coordinator might’ve just gotten fired on Black Monday

The Dallas Cowboys might have found their next defensive coordinator in waiting, as Dan Quinn appears likely to take a head coaching job this cycle.

This isn’t a shot at Quinn at all, as he’s earned another shot as a head coach after turning around what had been the worst defense in all of football. The former Falcons head coach has plenty of experience leading a successful team, even taking Atlanta to the Super Bowl.

If Quinn does leave this offseason, expect recently-fired Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer to be high on the Cowboys list of replacement options. Zimmer is a former Cowboys assistant who could gain more notoriety by returning to his roots and rebuilding his reputation as a defensive mastermind.

This isn’t to say Zimmer did an awful job in Minnesota, but as we saw with Quinn, hitting the refresh button can prove valuable.

Could Cowboys hire Mike Zimmer?

Quinn has proven valuable on multiple fronts. First off, he’s an excellent defensive coordinator, and second, he has head coaching experience. With Mike McCarthy falling ill to COVID-19 and being forced out of action for at least one game this year, Quinn was able to take over and not miss a beat.

Zimmer will hopefully not be placed in a similar situation, as we’re all rooting for McCarthy’s long-term health, but it’s good to have a backup plan in place. Zimmer is 65 years old and won’t have many head coaching opportunities left. It’s unclear if he even prefers to lead a team again, let alone sign on as an assistant.

But if he’s itching for another opportunity, Zimmer heading back to Dallas to replace Quinn makes too much sense.