Dallas Cowboys: History of Defensive Coordinators

With the Cowboys coming off one of the worst defensive performance in team history, the franchise is looking for a new defensive coordinator. Paul Pasuqaloni has agreed to become the new head coach at the the University of Connecticut, and the Cowboys are interviewing several candidates. Among these candidates are Pittsburgh DB coach Ray Horton (a former Cowboy player), Stanford defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and Miami defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. The biggest surprise was news that Dallas is interesting in Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

For the most part, the Cowboys have had stability in their coordinators throughout the team's history. Tom Landry oversaw both the offense and defense during the 1960s and early 1970s with a staff that was tiny compared to today's standards. The title of offensive or defensive coordinator in general was relatively rare. The Giants of the 1950s famously employed both Landry and Vince Lombardi, and both are now often labeled as having been coordinators with that team. However, neither held that specific title, as both were merely listed as assistant coaches. Moreover, in the NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football, the term is not used at all, for most assistant coaches were assigned to specific positions, such as the line.

Landry started to delegate more authority during the 1970s, and the coordinator titles first appeared during that time. However, Landry never gave up playcalling privileges easily, especially on offense, and so the title hardly had the same meaning as it does today.

Below is a list of the team's defensive coordinators, including the two head coaches who served in that role.

Tom Landry: Head Coach (1960-1988)

The Cowboys hired Landry as a defensive expert, and he brought to Dallas his version of the 4-3 defense. The early years were tough, as he struggled to put the pieces in place. During these struggles, his inside and outside 4-3 schemes were replaced with the flex defense, which became the staple of the Dallas defense.

Ernie Stautner: Defensive Line (1966-72); Defensive Coordinator (1973-74); Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line (1975-88)

Stautner was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a future hall-of-famer with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined the Dallas coaching staff in 1966 and became defensive coordinator in 1973. Unlike the offense, Landry reportedly was more willing to concede playcalling duties on defense, and Stautner had more control of the defense than his counterparts on offense. Most expected that Stautner would someday replace Landry as head coach, but with Landry's firing in 1989, Stautner never coached in the NFL again.

Dave Wannstedt: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers (1989-92)

Wannstedt came to Dallas from the University of Miami when Jimmy Johnson arrived in 1989. The defensive philosophy of Johnson and Wannstedt relied on speed and quickness rather than size. The system worked in the NFL, as the Cowboys improved from 20th in the league in yards allowed to first by 1992, which was Wannstedt's last season in Dallas.

Butch Davis: Defensive Line (1989-92); Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers (1993); Defensive Coordinator (1994)

Wannstedt's replacement was also a former Miami coach in Butch Davis, who continued to employ the same system. In 1994, Dallas again had the top-ranked defense in the league.

Dave Campo: Defensive Assistant (1989-90); Defensive Backs (1991-94); Defensive Coordinator (1995-99); Secondary (2008-present)

Campo rose through the ranks to take over as defensive coordinator in 1995. Although Dallas lost a ton of the team's most talented defensive players during Campo's tenure, his defensive units constantly ranked in the top 10 in yards and points allowed.

Mike Zimmer: Defensive Assistant (1994); Defensive Backs (1995-99); Defensive Coordinator (2000-2006)

When the Cowboys hired Campo as head coach, former defensive backs coach Mike Zimmer was elevated to the defensive coordinator position. Zimmer's defense was often the lone bright spot on the team during the early 2000s, though the team struggled in giving up points. His defense led the league in yards allowed in 2003, but Bill Parcells' arrival that season had marked the beginning of the team's transition to the 3-4 defense. He remained as coach in 2005 and 2006, but the defense struggled after the transition.

Brian Stewart: Defensive Coordinator (2007-2008)

Dallas hired Wade Phillips in 2007 due to his defensive coaching experience, and Phillips brought Stewart along as the new defensive coordinator. The new coaching staff brought promises of more elaborate blitz schemes, which would create more pressure on the quarterback. However, during 2007 and part of 2008, the team often struggled to generate this pressure. Phillips took over the playcalling duties from Stewart, and the defense appeared to improve after the move as the Cowboys led the league in sacks. Many called for Stewart's removal as defensive coordinator, especially after Phillips started taking over the playcalling, and the Cowboys fired Stewart after a disappointing 9-7 season in 2008.

Wade Phillips: Head Coach (2007-2010); Defensive Coordinator (2009-2010)

Phillips took over the role of defensive coordinator in 2009, and the results were better than expected. The Cowboys ranked second in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. However, the team tanked in 2010, and Jerry Jones fired Phillips after eight games.

Paul Pasuqaloni: Tight Ends Coach (2005); Linebacker Coach (2006-2007); Defensive Line Coach (2010); Interim Defensive Coordinator (2010)

The Cowboys elevated defensive line coach Paul Pasuqaloni to serve as interim defensive coordinator for the remainder of the 2010 season. He changed some of the playcalling, relying more on zone coverages than Phillips did. Although the defense improved and forced more turnovers, the defense was largely to blame for losses to the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.