Cowboys Expected to Hire John Fassel as Special Teams Coordinator
By Scott Rogust
The one-year wait proved to be worth it for Mike McCarthy, who ended up getting hired on as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach. Now, he has potentially landed a significant hire for his coaching staff.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Cowboys are expected to hire John "Bones" Fassel, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams, as the team's new special teams coordinator.
The #Cowboys are expected to hire John “Bones” Fassel as their special teams coordinator, sources tell me and @RapSheet. One of the NFL’s best. Fassel’s contract was up with the #Rams, whom he helped to the Super Bowl last season. Mike McCarthy building a superstaff in Dallas.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 8, 2020
The son of former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel, "Bones" is a highly regarded special teams mind around the league.
Fassel got his start as a special teams assistant with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2005. In 2008, Fassel was offered the job of special teams coordinator with the Oakland Raiders, where he lasted four seasons.
A name of interest on Mike McCarthy’s staff with the Cowboys is Rams special teams coach John Fassel, according to sources. He’s had one of the top units the last few years. The Cowboys’ special teams struggled in 2019 with Brett Maher contributing 10... https://t.co/uwUH76AKbi
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 7, 2020
It was his tenure with the Rams that got him the most recognition. Fassel joined the team in 2012, and has remained up until the conclusion of the 2019 regular season. He even served as interim head coach for three games in 2016 after the team fired Jeff Fisher.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had been critical of the team's special teams unit this season, especially at the kicker position. Now, he got arguably the best name on the market, thanks in part to the presence of Mike McCarthy.