Get to know Mike Zimmer, Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coaches heading into 2024

Al Harris is one of the standout names on the newly-revamped defensive staff.

The Dallas Cowboys are one step closer to training camp in Oxnard, Calif. As the new season nears, it’s time to get reacquainted with Mike McCarthy’s coaching staff.

With Dan Quinn taking over as head coach of the Washington Commanders, a new (and familiar) face will run the defense in Dallas this season. Get to know Mike Zimmer and the rest of the Cowboys’ coaches on defense before camp:

Mike Zimmer

Position: Defensive coordinator

College: Illinois State

Zimmer is no stranger to the Cowboys. Hired in February to run the team’s defense, Zimmer will look to keep the unit among the most dangerous groups in the NFL.

Before joining McCarthy’s staff, Zimmer was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He led the Vikings to a 72-56-1 record before his tenure with the team ended in 2021. Zimmer worked as defensive coordinator in Atlanta and Cincinnati before securing the head coaching gig in Minnesota.

Zimmer previously spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys in an assortment of roles — including defensive coordinator — under four head coaches from 1994 through 2006.

Al Harris

Position: Assistant head coach/Defensive backs coach

College: Texas A&M-Kingsville

Harris has played a key role in the development and breakouts of cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland. Under his tutelage, both corners stepped up and earned first-team All-Pro honors.

After originally joining McCarthy’s staff in 2020, Harris was promoted to assistant head coach this offseason. He will work closely with Zimmer, whose background is more secondary-focused compared with Zimmer’s predecessor.

McCarthy was Harris’ head coach from 2006 to 2009 on the Green Bay Packers.

Jeff Zgonina

Position: Defensive line coach

College: Purdue

After two seasons as defensive line coach in Washington, Zgonina found a new home in the NFC East.

The experienced coach replaces Aden Durde, who became the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator this offseason. Zgonina played in the NFL from 1993-2009, winning Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams.

His coaching career began in 2013 with the Houston Texans. He has also worked with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers.

Scott McCurley

Position: Linebackers coach

College: Pittsburgh

Like McCarthy, McCurley is a Pittsburgh guy. He joined McCarthy’s staff in 2020 and will enter his fifth season as the team’s linebackers coach.

Prior to landing in Dallas, McCurley worked with McCarthy in Green Bay for 13 seasons. Starting his Packers stint as a coaching admin in 2006, McCurley worked his way up to a quality control role then became the team’s assistant linebackers coach in 2014. He held that position until 2017, then became a defensive assistant in 2018.

Cannon Matthews

Position: Safeties coach

College: Ohio

Matthews received a promotion from assistant defensive backs to safety coach this offseason. Before joining McCarthy’s Cowboys staff in 2020, Matthews worked with the Washington Commanders for three seasons.

Matthews has worked his way up in Dallas, originally starting as a defensive quality control coach. His coaching career began in 2007 when he spent one season in Cleveland and he followed that up with three years in Buffalo. Matthews has also worked at Kentucky Christian University and with the Tennessee Titans.

Paul Guenther

Position: Defensive run game coordinator

College: Ursinus

To address the greatest liability in Dallas’ defense, Zimmer turned to a well-known name in Guenther.

Guenther and Zimmer worked together in Cincinnati from 2008-2013 and again in Minnesota in 2021. Guenther served as a defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2014-2017 and the Raiders from 2018-2020.

This is the first time the Cowboys have designated a run game coordinator in McCarthy’s tenure.