former Vikings coach’s chances of returning to the NFL may be compromised

It appears that former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer’s planned departure from the team to join the Dallas Cowboys is no longer a possibility.

Following Dan Quinn’s resignation this offseason, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero claimed a few days ago that Mike Zimmer, the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, had been chosen to take over as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator.

The Cowboys haven’t made a formal statement on the arrival of Zimmer this season as of Monday, and it doesn’t seem like a done thing just yet.

The Dallas organization contacted former NFL head coach Rex Ryan on Sunday regarding their position for defensive coordinator, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter disclosed on Monday that Zimmer’s contract has not yet been signed.

It is not yet official that former Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will join the Dallas Cowboys.

Even though Schefter revealed that the Cowboys contacted Ryan on Sunday, the ESPN insider did not rule out Zimmer’s candidacy for the defensive coordinator position on the team.

Thus, it remains a possibility that the former head coach of the Vikings will not play for Dallas this season, but the franchise may also be making sure he is the player they truly want to sign.

Since serving as Minnesota’s head coach in 2021, Zimmer has not been in the NFL. He last held the position as defensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013.

Ryan, on the other hand, has not held a position in the NFL since serving as head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 2016. The last time you can locate a record of him being a defensive coordinator in the NFL dates back to 2008, when he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Ryan’s hiring by the Cowboys to replace Quinn would appear strange, especially considering Zimmer’s long history with the team. The former head coach of Minnesota started his NFL coaching career in 1994 with Dallas, where he spent 13 seasons as a member of the staff.

So, this season, will the Cowboys stick with Ryan, who has never worked for the team, or will they bring back their former assistant coach?