For many years, the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary was considered a weak point, no matter who played in the defensive backfield. They struggled to make key stops, and getting interceptions seemed almost impossible.
However, in the past four seasons, there has been a significant improvement in this area. The change started when Dan Quinn became the defensive coordinator in 2021, but he wasn’t the only one responsible for the transformation.
Al Harris, who joined the Cowboys’ coaching staff in 2020 when Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach, also played a key role. Harris was praised for his work with the secondary and helped keep the defense competitive, especially during the 2024 season, despite injuries to key players like DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs.
However, it seems that Harris may not return for the 2025 season. According to Shan Shariff of 105.3 The Fan, it’s unlikely that Harris will be back.
While it’s understandable that the Cowboys might want to give their next coach a fresh start, this move also highlights the unconventional ways in which owner Jerry Jones operates.
Jones is reportedly considering bringing in former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten for a role with the team. The plan is to groom Witten as a potential future head coach, similar to how he did with Jason Garrett in 2007. However, unlike Garrett, Witten does not have any coaching experience in the NFL, making this move even more puzzling.
This suggests that Jones is willing to take risks and shake things up, much like he did when he hired Wade Phillips and then brought in a high school coach. However, he does not seem inclined to ask a new head coach to work with Harris, who was so highly valued that the Cowboys made him the assistant head coach last season to keep him from leaving.
At this point, it’s unclear where the Cowboys will end up once the coaching decisions are finalized, but one thing is certain: it’s going to be an interesting and memorable process.
