The Dallas Cowboys’ disappointing season is nearing its end, and as it wraps up, both players and coaches are reflecting on numerous regrets. One of the most candid reflections comes from defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Speaking with the media this week, Zimmer seemed to acknowledge that, regardless of whether Mike McCarthy returns as head coach, his time with the Cowboys is likely over. Zimmer was hired on a one-year contract, which made his departure almost certain. What was striking, however, was the bluntness with which Zimmer expressed his thoughts. It appeared that, knowing his exit was imminent, Zimmer took the opportunity to place some blame on the team for the defense’s struggles this year. The Cowboys’ defense dropped from 5th in points and yards allowed in 2023 to 28th in yards and 31st in points this season. Zimmer suggested that his inability to coach the defense in his preferred way contributed to the poor performance, which could be seen as a subtle criticism of McCarthy.
Zimmer admitted to not being as firm as he wanted to be. He stated, “I wish I had done things my way from the start. That was a challenge for me initially. But what I’m most proud of is seeing the players improve… There’s more we could’ve done, but I believe a lot of it came down to that. We had to work through many different scenarios to achieve my vision.” When asked for further clarification, Zimmer continued, “I had to do things I wasn’t comfortable with. The team was good last year, so I didn’t want to shake things up too much. I wasn’t as tough as I usually am or as stubborn about sticking to my methods. That’s what I regret the most.”
Zimmer wasn’t the only coach expressing dissatisfaction with the season. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer also voiced his frustrations. He highlighted the team’s drop in takeaway-giveaway ratio, falling from 5th last year to 24th this year. Schottenheimer lamented the turnovers, especially after the Cowboys’ 41-7 loss to the Eagles, which featured four turnovers and no takeaways. “The biggest issue for me is the turnovers,” Schottenheimer said. “You can’t win consistently when you’re giving the ball away. We know we haven’t coached it well, and that responsibility falls on all of us. We felt good going into the Eagles game, but the turnovers completely shifted the momentum.”
