Former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn departed to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders during the offseason. As of 2024, the Cowboys are struggling, positioned among the bottom defenses in the NFL.

A former NFL head coach believes the current situation could have been avoided.

“I could have improved [the Cowboys’ defense] in no time,” Rex Ryan shared with ESPN’s DiPietro and Rothenberg. “However, they couldn’t provide the financial compensation I expected, or I would have taken the position.”

Ryan hasn’t been involved in NFL coaching since he led the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2016, but offseason discussions suggested that the Cowboys had interviewed him for their defensive coordinator role.

Ultimately, the Cowboys chose Mike Zimmer, who previously served as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 to 2021. The Cowboys kicked off the season with a 1-2 record, with their defense ranked 30th in scoring (allowing 29.7 points per game), 28th in total yardage (372.7 yards per game), and last in rushing defense (185.7 rushing yards per game).

As an ESPN analyst since 2017, Ryan openly criticized the hiring of Zimmer during a radio show.

“You hired someone who ranked 29th in defense for his last two seasons with Minnesota. Is that the energy you want to inspire your team? Things could go horribly wrong for Dallas,” he remarked.

Before this, Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2005 to 2008.

He then became the head coach for the New York Jets, steering the team to the AFC championship game twice in his first two years. After being fired in 2014, the Buffalo Bills hired him as head coach in 2015, only to let him go the following year due to another disappointing season.

The Cowboys are scheduled to face off against the New York Giants on “Thursday Night Football,” with both teams entering the game holding a 1-2 record.

Rex Ryan’s head coaching resume

• 2009 Jets: 9-7, 2nd in AFC East, reached the AFC championship game
• 2010 Jets: 11-5, 2nd in AFC East, reached the AFC championship game
• 2011 Jets: 8-8, 2nd in AFC East, missed playoffs
• 2012 Jets: 6-10, 3rd in AFC East, missed playoffs
• 2013 Jets: 8-8, 2nd in AFC East, missed playoffs
• 2014 Jets: 4-12, 4th in AFC East, missed playoffs
• 2015 Bills: 8-8, 3rd in AFC East, missed playoffs
• 2016 Bills: 7-8, fired, missed playoffs