Report: Cowboys to Hire Mike Nolan as new Defensive Coordinator

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Report: The Dallas Cowboys are wasting no time ushering in a new era in the organization. Just hours after naming Mike McCarthy the new head coach, they are now set to hire Mike Nolan as the team’s new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Mike Nolan will be the Cowboys defensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy after spending the last three seasons as the New Orleans Saints linebackers coach, a source confirmed multiple reports. McCarthy served as offensive coordinator when Nolan was the… https://t.co/zKN2SqTMt0

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 6, 2020

Nolan’s experience as a coach in the NFL dates back to 1987 when he was the special team’s coach for the Denver Broncos. He spent time as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants (1993-1996), Washington Redskins (1997-1999), New York Jets (2000), Baltimore Ravens (2002-2004), Denver Broncos (2009), Miami Dolphins (2010-2011), and most recently the Atlanta Falcons (2012-2014). He also spent four years as the San Francisco 49ers head coach (2005-2008).

Nolan has plenty of experience coaching linebackers, and he’s done a very good job at it. During his days in San Francisco, he groomed retired linebacker Patrick Willis into an All-Pro. Also, in 2019 he produced another All-Pro at linebacker in Demario Davis. Now, he gets to work with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch.

It will interesting to see if he’ll run the 3-4 defensive scheme, which has been the defense he’s primarily run, or the 4-3 scheme which is the Cowboys base defense. Regardless of which direction he goes, the Cowboys now have a new guy guiding the ship on the defensive side of the ball. More details to come. Stay tuned to more from the Dallas Cowboys as we report the news as we get it.