Dallas Cowboys reportedly interviewed Ron Rivera on Monday, Mike Zimmer on Tuesday

The Dallas Cowboys knew the days of Dan Quinn being their defensive coordinator were limited. Quinn was consistently in the conversation for head coaching roles and finally landed with the Washington Commanders. Now, Dallas is searching for a new DC and has reportedly already interviewed two candidates.

According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, both Ron Rivera and Mike Zimmer have interviewed for the position. Both are former head coaches, with Rivera being fired by Washington after this season and Zimmer most recently being with the Minnesota Vikings.

“Cowboys interviewed Mike Zimmer today for their vacant defensive coordinator position,” Watkins said via X. “Ron Rivera did his interview yesterday a person briefed on the process tells @dmn_cowboys.”

Watkins later added to his report, saying current defensive line coach Aden Durde interviewed as well.

Zimmer has been out of the NFL since 2021 after an eight-year stint as Minnesota’s head coach. He was last a defensive coordinator during the 2013 season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Reports emerged of him being interested in the job on Thursday.

As for Rivera, he would essentially be switching places with Quinn. He is a long-time head coach in the NFL with Washington and the Carolina Panthers. Rivera was a defensive coordinator for just three seasons with the San Diego Chargers from 2008-2010.

Jerry Jones not worried about DC hire despite Mike McCarthy’s contract

Multiple people involved with the Cowboys have claimed the franchise will go “all-in” this season, attempting to finally break through in the playoffs. One of them has been Jerry Jones but he decided to keep head coach Mike McCarthy with an expiring contract, giving him one more season in Dallas.

There were questions about whether hiring a defensive coordinator would be difficult due to McCarthy’s contract situation. If the Cowboys decide to overhaul the coaching staff following 2024, the DC would have spent just one season.

Jones is not too worried though, saying it’s another opportunity to showcase their abilities and potentially get back into a head coaching role.

“I don’t anticipate that being an issue at all,” Jones said Sunday, per the team website. “If they take the job, they will be coordinator of the Cowboys. They would be looking at that right there and all that goes with that. If they’re aspiring, they know there’s a chance to be a head coach someplace. Because the one that just left is.”