Doug Nussmeier and Jon Kitna both played integral roles in the revamping of the Cowboys offense under first-time offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Their contributions to a scheme that strove to be more versatile and multidimensional resulted in one of the top offenses in the league. Dallas finished 2019 ranked tops in the NFL in yards per game and scrimmage yards per offensive play, and they placed 6th across all teams in points per game.
But those rankings didn’t translate to enough wins, and a change at head coach has brought the inevitable reshuffling of staff, regardless of the year’s statistical success. Kitna now looks to be headed out of Dallas, according to reports, with tight ends coach Nussmeier taking his place as quarterbacks coach under new skipper Mike McCarthy.
Doug Nussmeier is expected to be named quarterbacks coach on Mike McCarthy’s staff after serving as the tight ends coach in 2018-19 under Jason Garrett, according to sources. He will replace Jon Kitna, who helped oversee Dak Prescott’s career highs in… https://t.co/DS3CTdT5Jq
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 12, 2020
Nussmeier came aboard in early 2018, after serving in the college ranks since 2008 with the programs at Fresno State, Washington, Alabama, Michigan, and Florida. Nussmeier was charged with the development of the Cowboys tight ends, who were suddenly without veteran Jason Witten as the 2018 season approached.
The former college, NFL, and CFL quarterback stayed on in that role with the Cowboys when then-quarterbacks coach Kellen Moore was promoted to offensive coordinator and Kitna was brought in just prior to the 2019 Pro Bowl, where the Dallas staff coached the NFC squad.
Kitna had been a journeyman quarterback with several pro teams including the Cowboys before transitioning into coaching at the high school level. He then accepted a position as the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Fleet of the AAF, but took the Dallas quarterbacks coaching job before that league began play.
Kitna was known for a detailed approach to mechanics- especially footwork- and is credited with playing a major role in the dramatic uptick in the play in 2019 of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In one year under Kitna, Prescott enjoyed his best season as a pro in terms of passing yards, yards per attempt, touchdowns, and sacks.
As a collegiate quarterback at Idaho, Nussmeier built an impressive body of work. He is one of only five quarterbacks in NCAA history to amass 10,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, on a list that includes Steve McNair, Daunte Culpepper, and Colin Kaepernick.
As ESPN’s Todd Archer points out, Nussmeier would be Prescott’s fourth position coach in five NFL seasons.
And as many Cowboys fans are pointing out, Nussmeier’s move would leave an opening for a tight ends coach. And the Cowboys already have in the building a veteran tight end- a future Hall of Famer at the position- who has shown a proclivity for breaking down the nuts and bolts of the game and a strong allegiance to the franchise that drafted him in 2003. Could this be the toppling of the first domino that eventually brings Witten to the coaching staff?
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