The Dallas Cowboys wanted it all, but they may not be in charge of what chefs are available to cook the meal. In the vein of wanting their cake and eating it to, it appears Dallas was on the verge of not just getting their cake in defensive coordinator hire Dan Quinn, but also the cupcake as my Catch This Fade cohost Patrik Walker phrased it, in being able to retain defensive consultant George Edwards.
But it appears that just like with Kellen Moore having been reached out to by the Philadelphia Eagles, Edwards is on another team’s radar as well. The Chicago Bears are asking (not asking) for permission to interview the former Vikings coordinator to lead their defense, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
The Chicago Bears have requested permission to speak with Cowboys senior defensive assistant George Edwards regarding their defensive coordinator opening, according to a source. Because it is for a coordinator's job, the Cowboys cannot block the… https://t.co/e9JHzYiBBj
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 19, 2021
Chuck Pagano retired from coaching, leaving the Bears searching for a replacement.
Edwards was hired alongside Mike Nolan to help transform the Cowboys defense, but things went horribly wrong as the offseason was wiped away due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nolan insisted on installing a hybrid front defense that changed the roles of personnel like edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, betraying head coach Mike McCarthy’s pledge to marry the scheme to the talents of his players. The results were a defense that ranked at the bottom of the league in almost every statistical category until a crazy end-of-the-year run creating turnovers.
Publicly, there’s been no confirmation of how much Edwards was involved in the day-to-day operations of the defense, or how much the club intended to have him involved with Quinn in the big chair. Still, Edwards experience with the linebacker position seemed to be a paramount focus for a group that has invested so much into the position, drafting Leighton Vander Esch in the 2018 first round and signing Jaylon Smith to a large extension prior to 2019.
Prior to Edwards’ six seasons as DC under Mike Zimmer in Minnesota, he was a linebackers coach at four different spots, including with Dallas during the late 1990s.
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