Cowboys' Jerry Jones: McCarthy's Contract Won't Impact DC Search to Replace Dan Quinn

The Dallas Cowboys are in search of a new defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn departed to become head coach of the Washington Commanders, but team owner Jerry Jones isn't worried about a potential hurdle in the search.

Jones told the team's website that he doesn't believe that head coach Mike McCarthy being in the final year of his contract will hinder the team from finding its next defensive coordinator.

"I don't anticipate that being an issue at all," he 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."

Jones said he doesn't "have a timeline" as to when the team's next defensive coordinator will be hired, but there are plans to begin the search this week.

"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]."

The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing loss in the NFC Wild Card Round after they finished with a 12-5 record and won their second NFC East title in the last three years.

Dallas' defense ranked fifth in the league with 299.7 yards and 18.5 points allowed per game this season. The unit has ranked in the top three in turnover differential in each of the last three seasons, so the next defensive coordinator will be inheriting a talented group of players.

In addition to losing Quinn to a division rival, the Cowboys will see another familiar face twice a year after former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore accepted the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, Jones said the team won't be worried about who's on the opposing sideline.

"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."