The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly hiring former Vikings head coach as their defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Zimmer was the Vikings head coach for eight seasons before being fired in 2021 after a 8-9 season. During Zimmer’s eight years in charge the Vikings regularly had one of the top defenses in the league, peaking with the No. 1 defense during the 13-3 2017 season.
The 67-year-old replaces Dan Quinn as Dallas’ defensive coordinator after Quinn left to become Washington’s head coach. The Cowboys had the fifth-ranked defense in the league in 2023.
Zimmer returns to Dallas where he coached from 1994 to 2006, working his way up from defensive assistant to defensive coordinator. Current Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and Zimmer have history coaching against each other when McCarthy was head coach of the Packers during Zimmer’s Vikings tenure.
The #Cowboys are expected to hire Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator, per sources.
Zimmer, 67, is the third-winningest head coach in #Vikings history and long respected for his defensive prowess. A big hire for Dallas, where Zimmer previously coached from 1994-2006. pic.twitter.com/jFq8KdIyNJ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 9, 2024
