Mike Zimmer reflects on first season with Dallas Cowboys, admits ‘regret’ over defensive approach

Mike Zimmer‘s first season back as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys (7-9) hasn’t gone to plan. Then again, neither has the team’s season amid lofty expectations.

Zimmer reflected on his first season calling plays defensively on Monday and admitted regret over his initial approach.

“I wish that when I came in that I would have done everything the way I wanted it done and not kind of tried to blend things. I think that was part of the struggles at the beginning,” Zimmer said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “What I’m most proud about is watching the guys, how they’ve improved. … There is still a lot more we could have done better. I think a lot of it was that, so we had to work through a whole bunch of different scenarios to get to where I feel like [we got to] the vision that I had.

“… I was just doing things I was uncomfortable with, so I had to do what I had to do. I’ve said it to some of the coaches, you come in and here was the situation: They were good last year, right? So, I come in and I don’t want to really rock the boat. I probably wasn’t as tough as I typically am. Probably wasn’t as hard-headed about how I want to do things, I guess is the best way to say it. I wasn’t. That’s what I regret the most.”

Zimmer’s unit has surrendered 30 points or more six times this season, a defense which did that just twice in 2023. Injuries have not helped matters, with several key players missing significant time this season. Those include cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, linebacker Micah Parsons, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

Mike Zimmer’s future will Dallas Cowboys is uncertain

The 68-year-old’s unit did play better throughout December, giving up 24 points or less in Weeks 14-16. But then came this past Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3). The Cowboys were boat raced to the tune of 41-7, struggling to stop an offense led by Kenny Pickett and later Tanner McKee.

“We didn’t start as good as we did in those last couple of games,” Parsons said after the game. “When you lose that turnover battle against the top team in the NFL, that’s kind of like the outcome. We didn’t play our brand of football today.”

Zimmer, like many Cowboys coaches, is in limbo as it relates to 2025. The Cowboys have a decision to make on head coach Mike McCarthy, who is out of a contract after the 2024 season. A new coach could opt to bring in his own coaching staff, leaving Zimmer in the dust. That will be settled after this Sunday’s season finale against the Washington Commanders (11-5).

“I think No. 1 someone has to want you, so it’s always a two-way street,” Mike Zimmer said. “We’ll just worry about all that stuff after the season. … I know it’s late in the season, but it’s too early to be talking about the future and all those other things. So, we’ll just keep trying to do the best job that we can, and then everybody will sit down and have a conversation. Jerry will decide what he decides, and the rest of us will decide what we have to do decide.”