LATEST UPDATE: “I’ve always loved Dallas,” Mike Zimmer said about joining the Cowboys.

FOX 9 MINNEAPOLIS – Mike Zimmer has returned to the NFL sidelines after an absence of over two years.

Along with head coach Mike McCarthy, the Dallas Cowboys officially welcomed Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator on Wednesday at a joint news conference. Dan Quinn, who was been named the Washington Commanders’ new head coach, will be replaced by Zimmer.

After leading the Minnesota Vikings to an 8-9 record in 2021 and their third consecutive season of missing the NFC Playoffs, Zimmer was fired after eight seasons in the position. After serving as an assistant coach for 13 seasons in Dallas, Zimmer is returning to the city. From 2000 until 2006, he served as defensive coordinator.

“I’ve always had a fondness for Dallas and the Cowboys. Did I ever imagine coming back? I’m not sure. Zimmer remarked, “I always kind of hoped I would be.” “I had a few phone calls about going somewhere during my time off. I desired to be in an environment with individuals I trusted and know. I was thrilled when this chance presented itself.”

Several NFL teams were interested in Zimmer, but he wanted to be where he was most at ease. That ultimately happened to be with McCarthy, a longtime foe of the NFC North during his time as the Green Bay Packers’ head coach.

“He was the person I looked up to the most in the NFC North.” They had the best squad, the best coaching, and their teams performed correctly. Many of those things were our attempts to imitate,” Zimmer added. “I quickly realized that this was the ideal chance. I was being talked to by another team, but I wanted to come here. The subject of whether I wanted to be here at all was never raised.”

In order to spend more time with his family, which included twin granddaughters, Zimmer took a two-year hiatus from coaching. In October of 2022, he also had to deal with the death of his son, Adam, on Halloween. Adam worked with Mike as a co-defensive coordinator with the Vikings.

Reborn, Mike Zimmer claimed to have spoken with multiple former players since joining the Cowboys. Known for being a tough defensive coordinator, he made a point of refuting the idea on Wednesday that contemporary NFL players don’t respect or like him because they don’t fit his coaching style.

There’s a perception that I’m a jerk or something similar. It is what it is, but ever since it was revealed that I would be here, a ton of my former teammates—linebackers and defensive linemen, in particular—have texted me to express their happiness for me,” Zimmer said. “I think if I was such a jerk I wouldn’t be hearing from those guys.”