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Cowboys Coach Reportedly Eyeing Retirement Instead of Joining New Staff

Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will reportedly retire and not join Brian Schottenheimer's coaching staff.

By Jovan Alford

Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys including defensive tackle Linval Joseph (93) and offensive tackle Dakoda Shepley (65) run on to the field before the game at Bank of America Stadium.
Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys including defensive tackle Linval Joseph (93) and offensive tackle Dakoda Shepley (65) run on to the field before the game at Bank of America Stadium. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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The Dallas Cowboys have finally settled on a new head coach, promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the top spot after a couple of weeks of interviews. The Dallas fanbase wasn’t exactly happy about the hire. 

However, the Cowboys didn’t have many great options, especially with Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, and Mike Vrabel off the board. The good news is that the Cowboys found someone internal, who should help fill out the rest of the coaching staff.

The Cowboys have seen two coaches depart for new opportunities (Al Harris and John Fassel), and they’ll have to find replacements. However, the next hires that Schottenheimer has to focus on are at OC and DC.

Schottenheimer was the OC this season, while Mike Zimmer was the DC. The Cowboys would love for Zimmer to return for the 2025 season, but the latest reports say otherwise.

On Sunday, Cowboys insider Ed Werder reported that Zimmer told him he would not return to Dallas as part of Schottenheimer’s coaching staff and will likely retire from coaching in the NFL. Werder adds the Cowboys are likely to hire former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus as their defensive coordinator.

When it was initially reported that Schottenheimer would be the Cowboys’ next head coach, the first reports about a potential defensive coordinator hire were connected to Eberflus. 

Zimmer did an adequate job as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator this season as he dealt with multiple injuries on the defensive line. This season, the Cowboys were ranked 17th in passing yards allowed (218.1 per game), 29th in rushing yards allowed (137.1 per game), and 31st in scoring defense (27.5 points per game).

If Eberflus becomes the DC, he’ll have the pieces on the defensive line and secondary to right the ship. 

Eberflus struggled in his three-year tenure as the Bears' head coach but was the DC for the Indianapolis Colts for four years (2018-21).  The former Bears head coach also has ties to Dallas as he was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach for seven years (2011-17).

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