Dallas Cowboys hire former Boston College offensive coordinator Steve Shimko

The Dallas Cowboys announced the hire of former Boston College offensive coordinator Steve Shimko as a new offensive assistant. The new hire comes after the departure of offensive assistant Will Harriger. Harriger accepted the job as the Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach under new head coach Dave Canales.

Shimko served as the Boston College Eagles’ offensive coordinator under head coach Jeff Hafley. Hafley opted to enter the NFL ranks this offseason, leaving BC free to hire former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien. The abrupt change in head coach left Shimko open to exploring other opportunities.

He’s the fifth new hire for Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and the first on the offensive side of the ball. Nearly all of McCarthy’s offensive staff remains in place following the end of the 2023 season. Shimko previously worked with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in Seattle during the 2018 and 2019 seasons while he was an assistant QB coach. Along with Boston College and Seattle, Shimko has also coached at Rutgers, Georgia, and Garden City.

Cowboys hire new defensive trio under Mike Zimmer

The Cowboys also added a former player to the coaching staff this week. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has hired former defensive end Greg Ellis as assistant defensive line coach under defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.

Ellis played for Zimmer in Dallas during the coordinator’s long stint from 1994-2006. A Wendell, North Carolina native, he attended UNC where he developed into a starter at defensive end. He went on to be the Dallas Cowboys’ first-round draft pick in 1998 at No. 8 overall.

In his career in Dallas, he started 155 of 162 games for the Cowboys over 11 seasons. After an Achilles injury sidelined him in 2006, Ellis returned in 2007, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He also received his first and only Pro Bowl nod in 2007.

Over his 11 seasons with the Cowboys, he notched 377 tackles, 77 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, and nine fumble recoveries. He also had four interceptions and two touchdowns off returns. After getting the axe due to salary cap limitations, Ellis played one season for the Oakland Raiders before retiring. He posted seven sacks in 14 games for the Raiders.

Prior to joining the Cowboys staff, the former player was head coach at Texas College and Southwest Assemblies of God University (SAGU), two programs in the NAIA. He will work under new defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina. Zgonina is replacing Aden Durde, who took a promotion with Seattle to become a defensive coordinator.

Mike Zimmer also hired a former colleague this week, Paul Guenther. Guenther is now the team’s run game coordinator. He previously worked with Zimmer in Cincinnati and Minnesota. Guenther spent 2018-2020 as the defensive coordinator for the Raiders.