LATEST NEWS: The Cowboys have considered Rex Ryan as a potential replacement for Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator.

Mike Zimmer is allegedly close to joining the Dallas Cowboys as their new defensive coordinator. Rex Ryan, an ESPN analyst and former NFL head coach, was apparently also given consideration for the job.

The Cowboys were quite impressed with Ryan during the interview process, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Ryan left a lasting impression on the Cowboys’ owners, the Jones family, according to Schefter. It appears the Cowboys finally decided not to hire Ryan in spite of this.

Ryan acknowledged his doubts about Zimmer landing the position for good. He said that because he wants to become a coach again and thinks the Cowboys can win the Super Bowl, he contacted Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on the defensive coordinator opening.

Ryan, who is 61 years old, hasn’t been a coach since 2016. He has been a defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and several universities over his coaching career. He also led the New York Jets as their head coach from 2009 to 2016.

It would have been shocking if the Cowboys had selected Ryan for the position, even though it is usual for teams to appoint coaches who have taken a hiatus from the game, as seen by Jon Gruden’s return to coaching with the Las Vegas Raiders.