Dallas Cowboys expected to hire former player in assistant role

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to hire Tennessee State linebackers coach Joe Bowden, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. The former NFL player spent time with the Cowboys and Titans before starting his coaching career.

The Texas native played collegiately at Oklahoma and went No. 133 overall in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. The 51-year old recorded 433 career tackles after earning All-American honors in the Big Eight.

Joe Bowden returns to the Dallas Cowboys with plenty NFL experience as a player and coach. He previously spent time as a linebackers coach with the San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams from 2012-16.

He then left the professional ranks to become a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at NAIA school Missouri Baptist. Last season he joined Eddie George’s Tennessee State staff as linebackers coach in the FCS ranks.

Cowboys player on Dan Quinn

Dallas Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse joined 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming offseason and the importance of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Quinn opted to stay with the Dallas Cowboys, despite multiple opportunities to rejoin the head coaching ranks. Kearse shared how big he feels keeping the defensive coordinator is for the Cowboys in 2022.

“Getting Dan Quinn back was a huge win, and it was much-needed just to try your best to keep this group together,” Kearse said, via Jon Machota. “Because the strides we made in Year 1, it can give us a lot of upside going into Year 2, with guys being together.”

Jayron Kearse was a key part of the Dallas defense that led the NFL in picks this season. He racked up 101 total tackles in 2021 with 67 solo tackles. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder also snatched two interceptions. Both of those stats are career highs for the Clemson product.

He also posted eight tackles for loss in 2021 and four quarterback hits, both of which are, again, career highs for him. This is his sixth year in the NFL and he becomes a free agent this offseason if the Cowboys do not extend his contract.

He signed a 1 year, $1,127,500 contract with Dallas for the 2021 season but he played so well, the Cowboys may be forced to let him go due to financial restrictions this offseason. Dallas also needs to re-sign Randy Gregory and Michael Gallup, among many others who are on the open market.