The Dallas Cowboys will have a new look on defense this season, as they've hired Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. He replaces the outgoing Dan Quinn, who departed Dallas to take the vacated head coaching position of their rival, the Washington Commanders.
But now, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones along with head coach Mike McCarthy are rewarding a member of Zimmer's staff by giving him a promotion. According to multiple reports, not only did the Cowboys prevent defensive backs coach Al Harris from interviewing to be a part of Quinn's staff in Washington, but they are also now adding "assistant" to his coaching title.
The news was first reported by Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, who wrote the following on X (formerly known as Twitter) late yesterday:
"New: I’m told #Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris is expected to be promoted —adding Assistant Head Coach to his current title, per source. Kudos to head coach Mike McCarthy for making this move."
Harris, who previously served under Lane Kiffin as a defensive assistant in the collegiate ranks at Florida Atlantic in 2019, was hired by the Cowboys in 2020. He first got his feet wet at the NFL level as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins, while also leading the Kansas City Chiefs' secondary from 2013 through 2018.
Additionally, Harris already played under Mike McCarthy from 2006 to 2009 when they were together with the Green Bay Packers. Harris also earned a pair of Pro Bowl nominations during his 14-year NFL career.
“If you knew Al as a player, I mean he was, I mean he was a bulldog,” McCarthy said. “I mean he was just all football. But yeah, I mean, you know, I’m not surprised by it because of the way he played because it’s the way he coaches, you know, and what he believes in. I mean, Al was such a strong technician when he played. We lined up, we played bump-and-run pretty much every snap. So, he really always challenged, was a challenge for the receivers that we were preparing for week in and week out. And he coaches the same way.”
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