It remains ridiculous that it took the Dallas Cowboys a full week after their season ended to come to a conclusion on Mike McCarthy.
The two sides reportedly did not see eye-to-eye on a contract. It is speculated that McCarthy wanted the security of a long-term deal, while Jerry Jones preferred a one- or two-year contract loaded with incentives.
While McCarthy was looking out for himself and his household first and foremost, he also negotiated on behalf of his coaching staff. When referring to McCarthy's future, you are also talking about every coach under his umbrella.
After failing to strike a deal with the Cowboys, McCarthy informed his staff, including touted assistants Mike Zimmer, Al Harris and John 'Bones' Fassel, that they are free to pursue other jobs. The team should bring all three back, but Zimmer should be the priority.
McCarthy's departure obviously complicates that. Zimmer himself is contemplating retirement. There are a lot of factors at play, including Zimmer's recent comments to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.
Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer makes cryptic comments on his coaching future
#Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer tells me “all options are open” on his future after Dallas and Mike McCarthy parted ways Monday.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2025
Zimmer and other Dallas assistants whose contracts expired are now allowed to interview elsewhere. “I really enjoy coaching,” Zimmer said. pic.twitter.com/WMy4KV82Gf
Much like Deion Sanders' initial response to Jerry Jones calling him about the Cowboys' head coaching job, Zimmer's statement leaves the door open for all possibilities.
It sounds like Zimmer is open to a Cowboys return, but he also left retirement on the table. If the right opportunity presents itself, though, it seems that Zimmer still wants to call a defense, whether in Dallas or elsewhere.
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That might be up to the team's next head coach. Dallas would be smart to allow their next HC to fill out their staff as they see it. Mike McCarthy inherited Kellen Moore and that relationship strained during Moore's final season as offensive coordinator in 2022.
That is some of the appeal behind Deion Sanders. As an elite recruiter, odds are Sanders would assemble a home-run staff that might include Zimmer as defensive coordinator.
Regardless if Sanders gets the job, Zimmer returning as DC should be one of the Cowboys' top priorities.
The defense made significant strides over the final two months, and Micah Parsons enjoyed his most prolific season under Zimmer. With Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb having to learn a new offense, the importance of maintaining continuity on one side of the ball cannot be understated.
That Zimmer hasn't announced his retirement suggests he wants to coach again in 2025. He proved this season that he still has his fastball as an X's and O's whizz. Unless the 68-year-old doesn't get along with Dallas' next head coach, he needs to be back calling the defense.