Zimmer will be Cowboys defensive coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys have settled on a coaching reunion by deciding to bring back Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator to replace Dan Quinn.

Zimmer is rejoining the Cowboys 18 years after serving in the same role for Dallas. He later spent eight years as Minnesota's head coach.

The Cowboys had an opening after Quinn accepted the head coaching job in Washington.

Quinn spent three seasons with the Cowboys, quickly turning around one of the worst defenses in franchise history.

The 67-year-old Zimmer spent 14 years as a defensive coordinator before taking over the Vikings in 2014. The first seven of those seasons were with the Cowboys before one in Atlanta and six with Cincinnati.

Zimmer's debut as defensive coordinator in Dallas was 2000, the first of three 5-11 seasons under former coach Dave Campo. Zimmer remained on the staff after Bill Parcells was hired.

He has been out of the NFL since being fired by the Vikings with an overall record of 72-56-1 following the 2021 season, their second losing season in a row.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers cut quarterback Mitch Trubisky, sending the former No. 2 overall draft pick into free agency after two disappointing seasons.

Trubisky signed with the Steelers in March 2022 and was given first crack at replacing the retired Ben Roethlisberger. Trubisky started four games before being benched in favor of then-rookie Kenny Pickett. Trubisky struggled again this season while filling in for an injured Pickett before being replaced by thirdstringer Mason Rudolph.

Trubisky went 2-5 as a starter with the Steelers, throwing for eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The 29-year-old Trubisky lasted four seasons with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him in 2017, and spent a year as a backup for Buffalo.