Cowboys News: Dallas hires new OL coach, Jerry Jones presser, Brett Maher gone
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys have burning question marks to answer on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. Running back and wide receiver are the more pressing concerns for obvious reasons, but the offensive line lacks some clarity, too.
While the personnel itself needs to be addressed, the Cowboys have reportedly identified Joe Philbin’s replacement. Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys hired former Seahawks offensive line coach Mike Solari to fill Phibin’s shoes.
Solari has deep ties to Mike McCarthy, having coached on the same Chiefs staff in 1997-98, and been hired by McCarthy to be the Packers assistant offensive line coach in 2005.
Solari actually coached in Dallas under Tom Landry in the 1987-88 season. He served as the team’s offensive line assistant and special teams coach, so this marks Solari’s second stint with the organization.
More Cowboys News:
- Jerry and Stephen Jones addressed the media Wednesday, and both stressed they want Ezekiel Elliott back in 2023. Stephen Jones drew the ire of Cowboys fans by mentioning he didn’t notice Elliott decline this season. The running back has already said he’d be willing to take a pay cut to return to the team.
- Jerry Jones added that Dallas interviewed Rams tight ends coach and assistant head coach Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator job. This is the second known interview Dallas has conducted since they fired Kellen Moore. Panthers RBs coach Jeff Nixon initiated the interview process.
- Jones addressed the kicker position after Brett Maher’s historic meltdown in the playoffs. Whether the solution comes via free agency or the draft, the Cowboys will not bring Maher back for the 2023 season.
- Michael Gallup isn’t the only Cowboy who’s undergone surgery this offseason. Gallup underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and ankle. Malik Hooker (thumb), Tyron Smith (knee, nothing major), and Luke Gifford (core muscle) also went under the knife to clean up minor injuries.
- With a full year’s worth of a sample size, Jerry Jones still has zero regrets about trading Amari Cooper. And yet, the polarizing owner acknowledged that Dallas’ non-CeeDee Lamb receivers didn’t produce enough.
NFL News:
- The Texans hired 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach. Houston hasn’t done much winning recently, but they have the fifth-most cap space of any team this offseason, and five picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 draft, including the No. 2 and No. 12 overall picks.
- Former Panthers coach Matt Rhule filed an arbitration suit against Carolina. Now the head coach at Nebraska, Rhule is seeking $5 million in “offset severance compensation,” or money he believes the organization still owes him after he was fired in October.