Cowboys interview DC candidates
Dallas Cowboys officials interviewed Joe Whitt Jr., and Jason Simmons on Sunday for the vacant defensive coordinators position, a source said.
The interviews were conducted virtually.
Both coaches have strong ties to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Whitt Jr., was the Falcons secondary coach/ defense passing game coordinator. Whitt held the same position with Cleveland in 2019 and prior to that worked for 11 seasons with Green Bay, where Whitt was a cornerbacks coach for three seasons and secondary/ cornerbacks coach.
Simmons was the Carolina Panthers defense passing game coordinator/ secondary coach in 2020. He worked for nine seasons in Green Bay in a variety of positions. Simmons not only worked for McCarthy but was a holdover from that staff and worked with Matt LaFleur.
The Cowboys are trying to replace Mike Nolan, who was fired on Friday after one season.
In addition to Nolan’s firing, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was also relieved of his duties. In other NFL news:
• The New York Jets added two more names to their growing list of head coaching candidates.
Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus interviewed with New York on Sunday.
Daboll and Eberflus make six known candidates to speak with the Jets, who fired Adam Gase after two seasons last Sunday. New York has also interviewed Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, former Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis, San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
The Denver Broncos are focusing on five candidates to replace John Elway as general manager.
The Broncos completed their first round of virtual interviews Sunday with in-house candidate Brian Stark, their college scouting director. Terry Fontenot of the Saints interviewed Saturday, as did Patriots executive Dave Ziegler, who broke into the NFL with the Broncos in 2010. Champ Kelly of the Bears and Vikings executive George Paton interviewed Friday.
• President Donald Trump will present one of the nation’s highest civilian honors to Bill Belichick of the Patriots and the only coach to win six Super Bowl titles.
The presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is expected Thursday.