The Dallas Cowboys officially hired their defensive on Monday following a little drama that involved Rex Ryan. Reports surfaced on Friday that the Cowboys were set to hire former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.

The Dallas Cowboys reached back out to Rex Ryan

However, Zimmer was not signed on Monday when ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reported on The Pat McAfee Show the Cowboys had reached out again to Ryan after Friday’s reports. The Cowboys were considering Ryen as a candidate after news broke out that they planned to hire Zimmer.

"The Dallas Cowboys loved Rex Ryan..

Mike Zimmer's deal isn't done yet and they've reached back out to Rex Ryan" @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/0iVXpKj7Ja

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 12, 2024

On Sunday, Ryan said the Cowboys had indeed not officially signed Zimmer. Ryan appeared desperate to keep his chances of being the Cowboys defensive coordinator alive.

Mike Zimmer officially agreed to become the Dallas Cowboys’ DC

The Cowboys expedited their paperwork for Zimmer following Schefter’s report on Monday. According to Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, Zimmer agreed to terms to become the Cowboys defensive coordinator:Ezoic

“Mike Zimmer and the team have agreed to terms to make him the team’s new defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Monday. On Thursday, Pelissero initially reported the Cowboys were expected to hire Zimmer.”

Zimmer is “honored” to be a Cowboys coach

Per Ed Werder with ESPN, Zimmer said he was thrilled to join the Cowboys:

“I’m excited and honored to be back with a great organization. I’m thrilled to work with Mike McCarthy, for whom I have had a ton of respect in our NFC North days, and to do anything I can do to help the Joneses and the Cowboys.”

Reports of Zimmer’s hire make Ryan look goofy after what he said on Sunday. Ryan, who works in the media, should have handled his candidacy with the Cowboys more gracefully. There was no reason to harm Zimmer’s negotiations with the Cowboys.