Report: Mike Zimmer deal with Cowboys finalized after drama

Drama in Dallas with the defensive coordinator job

Author:
Joe Nelson
Publish date:
Feb 12, 2024 3:59 PM EST

All the drama is done. The Cowboys have reached an agreement with Mike Zimmer to become their defensive coordinator, putting an end to rumors that Rex Ryan could leap in at the last moment and get the job.

This is a breaking news update. Read the original story below.

Stop the presses! Mike Zimmer hasn't been hired by the Dallas Cowboys.

Last week, on Thursday to be specific, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero cited sources saying Zimmer would be returning to Dallas as the defensive coordinator, having been out of football since he was fired as head coach of of the Vikings after the 2021 season.

So what's happening with the Dallas defensive coordinator job? Well, Rex Ryan wasn't having it when Adam Schefter flat out said the Cowboys "have hired" Zimmer during an ESPN live report on Sunday. Ryan, an analyst at ESPN, was working during the report and challenged Schefter's information.

“First off, I’m not so sure Zimmer has that job right now. I’m not sure about that. I can honestly say I don’t believe that’s a fact right now," Ryan said.

On Monday, Schefter appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and said Zimmer hasn't finalized anything with the Cowboys and that Ryan remains in the mix for the job.

"I'm going to be fully transparent," Schefter told McAfee, explaining why he and Ryan weren't on the same page Sunday. "Mike Zimmer's deal is not done yet. They had reached out to Rex, subsequent to that, and they reached out to him about 15 minutes before that segment just to say, 'Hey, any shot at this?' So that's where the confusion came. They're not done with Zimmer yet, the deal's not done, I should say."

Mike Fischer of Cowboys Country is reporting, citing a source, that there is "still confidence' Zimmer's contract will get done despite a snag in the negotiations.

"I don't think it's a killer. It's contract-related, my source tells me. And there's still confidence that we're going to get there," Fischer said.

There's drama in Big D and only time will tell if Zimmer is back in the game or about to spend another year watching from his Kentucky ranch.