The verdict is in on Cowboys offensive line coach Marc Colombo. Will he return in 2019?
The Dallas Cowboys may not be ready to guarantee the return of the entire coaching staff for 2019.
But they have already decided that offensive line coach Marc Colombo is a keeper for the foreseeable future.
The team has signed Colombo to a three-year deal, according to multiple sources.
The Cowboys feel so good about what Colombo did after being promoted from assistant offensive line coach midway through the season that they will not bring back Hudson Houck as a consultant in 2019.
Dallas initially interviewed Colombo for the job following the 2017 season to replace Frank Pollack but felt the team’s former right tackle wasn’t experienced enough to lead the position.
Colombo played nine seasons in the NFL, including more than five seasons with the Cowboys. He was hired as an assistant coach with the Cowboys in 2015 and was named assistant offensive line coach in 2016.
The Cowboys hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander instead and it proved to be a bad marriage from the outset.
The offensive line didn’t mesh with his new techniques and the Cowboys struggled up front through the first eight games.
Alexander was fired during the bye week and Colombo was promoted to the lead position.
The team went back to doing more of the power blocking they were known for in the past.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott had over 100 yards rushing in four of the first six games following the change to power his way to the NFL rushing title for the second time in three years.
A three-year deal for Colombo bodes well for the futures of offensive coordinator coach Scott Linehan and head coach Jason Garrett. Both head into 2019 season with expiring contracts.
There is a chance one or both get extensions this offseason.
This story was originally published January 15, 2019 at 7:36 PM.
