Dallas Cowboys set to begin DC interviews minus Joe Whitt Jr., who bolts to Washington
The Dallas Cowboys officially began the process of searching for a new defensive coordinator on Monday morning.
They will do so without one of the leading candidates to replace the departed Dan Quinn, who is the new coach of the Washington Commanders.
Joe Whitt Jr., the Cowboys defensive passing game coordinator, was set to interview as Quinn’s replacement along with former Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, former Commanders coach Ron Rivera and Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde.
Whitt Jr. has said becoming the Cowboys defensive coordinator was his dream job. But he made made the prudent choice Sunday night of accepting the defensive coordinator position with the Commanders under Quinn rather than wait out the interview process in Dallas.
The Washington job offered more security, considering coach Mike McCarthy is in the final year of his contract. It was also a sure thing for a coach, who had been promised a defensive coordinator job twice before by McCarthy when both were in Green Bay only to be passed over.
Owner Jerry Jones, who two years ago invoked Quinn’s name as a possible future Cowboys coach, was not surprised about him getting the job with the Commanders.
Quinn came to the Cowboys in 2021 after being a head coach with the Atlanta Falcons, leading them to the Super Bowl in in 2017. He interviewed for job in each of the last two years before choosing to stay in Dallas.
“I felt ultimately two years ago that Dan wanted a head coaching job, so it doesn’t surprise me that he’s landed a head coaching job,” Jones said. “I couldn’t look at a crystal ball and see what direction that might go back then, but it doesn’t surprise me — the fact that he’s got head coaching credentials [and] been to a Super Bowl.”
Jones is confident the Cowboy will find a viable replacement.
“I don’t anticipate that being an issue at all,” Jones said. “If they take the job, they will be coordinator of the Cowboys. They would be looking at that right there and all that goes with that. If they’re aspiring, they know there’s a chance to be a head coach someplace, because the one that just left is.”
It was also not lost on Jones that Quinn went to the NFC East rival Washington Commanders.
Add that former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore landed with with Philadelphia Eagles gives two NFC East opponents with inside knowledge about the Cowboys.
“Well, they know us pretty well don’t they,” Jones said with a small laugh. “We’ve always known that there’s nobody living that you don’t have to play without. The Cowboys go on.”
At issue now is how the Cowboys who will select as their defensive coordinator.
“We’re interviewing,” Jones said. “We’re basically planning meetings. I won’t get into who we’re interviewing, but we have interviews beginning at nine in the morning [Monday].”
Jones said the Cowboys don’t have a timeline to hire a coordinator.
With Whitt out of the running, Zimmer appears to the favorite.
Zimmer, who was Vikings coach from 2014 to 2021, was an assistant coach with the Cowboys from 1994 to 2006 including the final seven seasons as defensive coordinator.
Zimmer has a strong relationship with Jones as well as one with McCarthy from their years facing off when McCarthy was with the Packers.
This story was originally published February 5, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
