Cowboys Rumors: Former Vikings HC Mike Zimmer to Interview for DC Job

Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is reportedly meeting with the Dallas Cowboys about their defensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Zimmer led the Vikings from 2014 to 2021. Since then, he has not held an NFL job and served as an analyst for Jackson State under head coach Deion Sanders in 2022.

Zimmer has a history with Dallas, working for the Cowboys from 1994 to 2006, taking over as defensive coordinator in 2000.

The Cowboys are looking to replace former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who took over as head coach of the Washington Commanders earlier this week.

Zimmer had mixed success during his time with the Vikings. He led Minnesota to the playoffs three times, reaching the NFC Championship in 2017, but missed the playoffs in his other five seasons with the team.

While his defenses in Minnesota weren't among the top of the league during his later years with the team, Zimmer's Vikings boasted some of the top defenses in his early years. From 2016 to 2018, Zimmer's defenses were ranked inside the top five in yards allowed and inside the top 10 in points allowed.

If hired for a second tenure with the Cowboys, Zimmer could help them find the success they've been searching for since their glory days when they won multiple Super Bowls in the '90s—one of which came with Zimmer on staff.

Along with Zimmer, the Cowboys also reportedly plan to interview former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, indicating Dallas could have plans to land a veteran coach rather than a younger one.

If the Cowboys are looking for experience, Zimmer would certainly be a fitting candidate.