The Dallas Cowboys weren’t coy, and on Friday made the move many expected. After a lackluster performance by their defense which featured some of the worst statistical measures of any team in the franchise’s 60-year history, the club has fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.
Hired from most recently being a linebacker’s coach for the New Orleans Saints, Nolan was head coach Mike McCarthy’s pick to get the most out of an underachieving defense. Instead, the club fell to rock bottom, allowing more points (473) than any unit in club history. They gave up more passing touchdowns (34) than any other year and at one point enjoyed a historically bad pace for run defense. During the course of the season, Dallas had anonymous players rip the defensive coaching staff as “totally unprepared” and as being “just not good at their jobs.” The man in charge of that effort is no longer employed by the team.
Cowboys have fired their defensive coordinator Mike Nolan @@NFLONFOX
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 8, 2021
Earlier on Friday, McCarthy was noncommittal when asked about Nolan’s future with the club.
“Well, that’s what we’re working on. We’re working on all the coaches, frankly. That’s what this process is about. You’ve got to take the emotion out of the disappointment of what 6-10 is, regardless of COVID and all the other challenges. I think it’s important to put everything on the table, and that’s what this process is.”
The Cowboys will now begin their search for a new DC, which could include current advisor George Edwards, who was Mike Zimmer’s coordinator in Minnesota for several years with the Vikings.
My guy @VoiceOfTheStar has been touting George Edwards as the logical replacement for (!)MIKE NOLAN(!) for months now.
We dove in on the latest #CatchThisFade and I had this to say about the potential promotion and Jones thinking behind it.
Subscribe.https://t.co/aXV23BZO4I pic.twitter.com/vgsa3fM9gm
— KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) December 18, 2020
The club could also look outside the organization. What will be interesting is how many of the position coaches will remain with the club.
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