The Dallas Cowboys introduced defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, and in doing so confirmed that defensive backs coach Al Harris will remain on next year’s staff.
On Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys introduced defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. He’ll replace Dan Quinn, who is now the head coach of the Washington Commanders.
Dallas had put together a strong regular season, though it disproportionately feasted on poor quarterback play. After looking like an All-Decade defense through September, a lack of physicality, discipline, and sound run defense would be the unit’s undoing. This culminated in the 48-32 Wild Card Round loss to the Green Bay Packers, in which these flaws were epitomized and it became increasingly clear that change was a real possibility.
Zimmer’s hire is an attempt to make the adjustments necessary to make the Cowboys’ defense a championship-caliber unit. However, speculation that defensive backs coach Al Harris could be a part of the coaching staff’s turnover had fans concerned that Zimmer would do more harm than good.
Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer waves to the crowd after the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas faithful can rest assured. The beloved Harris will be returning in 2024.
“I’m excited to work with him and I’ve heard about all the great work he does,” Zimmer said, regarding Harris.
Few, if any, had a larger impact on the development of cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland than Harris. Both have turned into certified difference-makers thanks to their ability to hunt for turnovers. While that skill can be hard to translate year-over-year, Harris has the backing of his bosses and his understudies.
After Quinn’s departure, Diggs backed Harris for the defensive coordinator opening.
al harris and trevon diggs
Harris has been with the Cowboys since 2020. They blocked him from interviewing for a spot on Quinn’s staff in Washington, where some expected him to ultimately land.
After spending 15 seasons in the NFL as a cornerback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams,
Harris immediately made the jump to the coaching ranks. He began as an intern with Miami before spending three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. There, he rose from a defensive assistant to the defensive backs coach. He also spent a year as a defensive assistant for Florida Atlantic University before his stay in Dallas.
The Cowboys are in the process of filling out the defensive staff, with Quinn taking Joe Whitt with him to Washington and with Aden Durde getting the Seattle coordinator job. In fact, while Zimmer sat with boss Mike McCarthy as the press conference at The Star, Zimmer’s phone rang.
“It’s somebody calling for a job,” he told us. “Really, it really was!”
As for Harris? Generally, if a fanbase is overly familiar with a position coach, something has gone either incredibly right or wrong. Given the love his players have shown for him and Zimmer’s quick confirmation that he’d be on the staff, fans should remain optimistic both about the direction of the defense and Harris’ coaching career.
