Saints Assistant Mike Nolan Reportedly on Cowboys' Radar for Defensive Coordinator
By Jerry Trotta
On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to hire Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, but more changes are expected to be on the way.
After all, McCarthy will need to round out the rest of his staff. Whether or not he intends to retain the likes of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and quarterbacks coach Jon Kitna remains to be seen.
The real overhaul, however, needs to occur on defense, and Dallas reportedly has its eyes set on the New Orleans Saints' linebackers coach, Mike Nolan, for the vacant defensive coordinator position.
Mike McCarthy is the #Cowboys' new head coach, and expect him to move quickly on staffing. One name to watch for defensive coordinator: Mike Nolan. @nflnetwork @gmfb pic.twitter.com/zYg7jKctCG
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 6, 2020
What makes this rumor all the more alluring for Cowboys fans is the fact that Nolan and McCarthy previously worked together in the NFL.
Back when Nolan was HC of the San Francisco 49ers, a stint that lasted four seasons (2005-2008), McCarthy was his offensive coordinator for the 2005 season. He, of course, took the Packers' coaching job the following year.
.@TomPelissero on @nflnetwork says the name to watch for the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy is Mike Nolan.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 6, 2020
New Orleans was eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, so McCarthy and Co. can open talks with Nolan as soon as they please. Given their history, this is certainly a rumor to keep an eye on.