Cowboys could be losing Micah Parsons whisperer to college job
Per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, yet another Dallas Cowboys coach is in the conversation to be poached for a coaching job outside the organization. And this time, it isn’t Kellen Moore or Dan Quinn.
Senior defensive assistant George Edwards is currently a frontrunner for the head coaching job at his alma mater Duke University. Edwards was a four-year letterman and two-year special teams captain during his time with the Blue Devils. He also served as an assistant at Duke in 1996.
Duke has already parted ways with head coach David Cutcliffe after 14 seasons. Cutcliffe did have a good amount of success with the university, bringing them to many bowl games and showing they can be a contender in the ACC. But Cutcliffe ended this NCAA season with a dismal 3-9 overall record, going 0-8 in conference play, which marked the end of his rope.
Duke University has to offer Edwards something special enough to pry him away from over 24 years in the NFL and a current coaching job that has him working with top-tier linebacker talent.
#Cowboys senior defensive assistant George Edwards has emerged as a candidate for the head coaching job at his alma mater Duke University, sources say. Edwards was a four-year letterman for the Blue Devils, who parted ways with David Cutcliffe last month.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 6, 2021
Cowboys senior defensive assistant George Edwards could be leaving Dallas for Duke’s head coaching job.
The 54-year-old has bounced around several NFL teams in his lengthy career – going from Dallas to Washington to Cleveland to Miami to Buffalo and back to Miami again. His longest stint was with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2014-2019. The Cowboys then re-signed Edwards in 2020, and he is now in his second year back with the organization.
There is no denying that George Edwards has played an integral role alongside Dan Quinn in getting the Cowboys’ defense back to being a top-tier group. In fact, Jori Epstein of USA Today reports that Edwards has been key to the success of stand-out rookie linebacker Micah Parsons.
"“George Edward[s] has been integral to Cowboys defensive improvement and rookie LB Micah Parsons’ rapid development. Edwards typically overseeing LBs when we’re at practice. He and Dan Quinn meet 1-on-1 with Micah to catch him up on LB/DE dual responsibilities.”"
It’s also important to note that the rumors aren’t a secret within the Cowboys’ front office. In an interview with 105.3 The Fan, EVP Stephen Jones said that he and Jerry Jones are very aware of the speculation. Stephen Jones also noted that Edwards “certainly deserves the consideration.”
Defensive coordinator (and current acting head coach, until Mike McCarthy returns) Dan Quinn also recognizes the talent that Edwards can bring to any team.
Dan Quinn says he can see why Duke would want Cowboys senior defensive asst. George Edwards as coach.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 6, 2021
"He’s got a rare combination of expertise, teaching and a big-picture view on things that’s not easy to have. I’d certainly endorse him not only to Duke but to any NFL team."
College squads and other NFL teams eyeing the Cowboys’ coaching staff shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Last year, Boise State tried to snatch offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (a former quarterback for BSU) from Dallas. In that situation, Jerry Jones dove into his bottomless bank account to ensure that Moore wasn’t going anywhere, signing him to a three-year extension.
Only time will tell whether this veteran coach will be with Dallas next year. But if he is truly a key reason as to why players like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs have had exceptional 2021 seasons, Jerry Jones might want to consider pulling out his checkbook again.
