Mike Zimmer, who served as the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 to 2021, is reportedly expressing interest in making a return to the NFL.
Zimmer is eyeing the vacant position of defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, as reported by Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. Notably, he had previously held this role with the Cowboys from 2000 to 2006.
The Cowboys find themselves in need of a replacement for their former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, who recently took on the role of head coach for the Washington Commanders.
The team is considering various external options for the position, including former Commanders and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, according to information from David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Zimmer has a history with the Cowboys, having spent a total of 13 years with the team from 1994 to 2006. During this time, he worked under four different head coaches and notably served as the defensive backs coach when the Cowboys secured victory in Super Bowl XXX in 1996.
Following his tenure with the Cowboys, Zimmer took on roles as defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals before becoming the head coach in Minnesota.
In his eight seasons as the Vikings’ head coach, Zimmer achieved an overall record of 72-56-1. A standout moment during his tenure was the 2017 season, where the team secured 13 wins and reached the NFC Championship Game, ultimately losing to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite the initial success, the Vikings did not replicate that playoff success in subsequent seasons, leading to Zimmer’s departure in January 2022 after two consecutive losing seasons.
At the time, Zimmer ranked as the seventh-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, and reports indicated that his strained relationship with quarterback Kirk Cousins played a role in his exit.
Following his departure from the Vikings, Zimmer took on an analyst role at Jackson State under head coach Deion Sanders, a former player for the Cowboys during Zimmer’s time as defensive backs coach in the 1990s.
This isn’t the first time rumors have circulated about Zimmer’s potential return to the NFL. Before the 2023 season, reports connected him to open defensive coordinator positions with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.
Considering internal candidates, the Cowboys may alternatively explore secondary and defensive passing game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as a potential fit for the defensive coordinator position, as identified by Moore, who considers Whitt Jr. the “top internal candidate” for the role.
