Report: Cowboys interviewing former Commanders HC for DC opening

Zimmer might hold a slight edge over Rivera, as he served in the same role in Dallas from 2000-06. In 2003, the Cowboys finished first in the league in yards and second in points allowed. 

Rivera, meanwhile, guided the Panthers to Super Bowl 50 due in part to a defense that finished sixth in the league in points and yards allowed. While he was in Washington from 2020-23, the Commanders ranked top 10 in points and yards allowed twice.

Either seems like a solid replacement for Dan Quinn, who the Commanders recently hired as their next HC. 

The Cowboys defense has stars like linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback DaRon Bland. This past season, Dallas finished ninth in the league in points (20.2) and seventh in yards allowed (306.1). 

However, it faltered in the postseason. In a 48-32 wild-card round loss to the Green Bay Packers, QB Jordan Love completed 16-of-21 passes for 272 yards and three TDs. Aaron Jones rushed for 118 yards and three TDs. 

"We had talked about how much [better] we had played at home, how much it stood for us to be at home and then to go like that at home was completely embarrassing and unacceptable," Parsons recently said on his podcast "The Edge." "I couldn't even look at that loss or feel any type of way because of how embarrassed I felt. It took me a while to even show my face in public. I disappeared completely."

Dallas' next DC must take its defense to the next level to end its 27-year Super Bowl drought.