The Dallas Cowboys parted ways with six assistant coaches on Thursday, including former NFL head coach Joe Philbin and Leon Lett, who earned two Pro Bowl nods in 10 seasons as a Cowboys defensive lineman.
In all, the Cowboys announced that Philbin (offensive line coach), Lett (assistant defensive line), Rob Davis (assistant head coach), George Edwards (senior defensive assistant), Skip Peete (running backs) and Kyle Valero (quality control analytics) would not be coming back.
Further, McCarthy would not commit to offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in his press conference later Thursday to discuss the moves.
“My evaluation process is still going on,” McCarthy said. “I’m hopefully to get together with Kellen as early as tomorrow.”
When pressed about Moore, McCarthy said: “I don’t really want to play this game today. It’s been a long couple of days.”
Moore was a candidate for the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching vacancy, reportedly interviewing over two days. The Panthers hired Frank Reich on Thursday.
All of the coaches let go Thursday were on expiring contracts.
“This was more about change that we just felt needed to happen,” McCarthy said of the six assistants, noting that the personal relationships with each made the decision difficult.
While several coaches were on their way out the door, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn informed the team Thursday that he would return in 2023. Quinn, a former head coach with Atlanta, had interviewed for the head-coaching vacancies with the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.
“We’re all extremely excited to have Dan back,” McCarthy said, per ESPN. “Had a chance to visit with him a short while ago. This is big for us. Gives us continuity. Definitely what we’ve accomplished the last two years, building off of that. Frankly, on a personal note, I can’t tell you how thankful I am.”
The Cowboys ranked fifth in scoring defense this season and seventh in 2021, Quinn’s first year on the job.
The Cowboys finished second in the NFC East with a 12-5 mark and defeated Tampa Bay in the wild-card round before losing last weekend to San Francisco in the divisional round of the playoffs. It’s the second consecutive 12-5 season for the Cowboys under McCarthy.
McCarthy is 30-20 in his first three seasons in Dallas and 2023 will be Year 4 of his five-year deal.
–Field Level Media
