Dallas Cowboys fire five coaches following second-round playoff loss

The Dallas Cowboys are cleaning house following the team’s second-round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

After initial reports revealed the exits of senior defensive assistant George Edwards and running backs coach Skip Peete, further reports indicate that offensive line coach Joe Philbin, defensive line coach Leon Lett and assistant head coach Rob Davis are also leaving the organization.

Dallas is also facing the prospect of replacing one or more coordinators this offseason.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has a second round of interviews for the head coaching positions at Denver, Arizona and Indianapolis.

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is still in the running to take over the Carolina Panthers after another interview on Wednesday.

Coaches still under contract past the offseason, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, are Mike McCarthy, Dan Quinn, Kellen Moore, John Fassel (ST), Joe Whitt Jr. (pass game coordinator), Al Harris (DB), Jeff Blasko (asst. OL), Robert Prince (WR), Rayna Stewart (asst. ST), Harold Nash (strength), Lunda Wells (TE), and Aden Durde (DL).

Cowboys say goodbye to five assistants

George Edwards, a senior defensive assistant for Dallas since 2020, has coached 25 seasons in the league. He was the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator from 2014-2019, the Buffalo Bills coordinator from 2010-11 and Washington’s coordinator in 2003.

Skip Peete was in his second stint working for the Cowboys. He has also coached running backs for the Rams and Bears.

Former Miami head coach Joe Philbin, now 61 years old, also joined the Dallas organization in 2020.

Leon Lett, who once played for the Cowboys defensive line, has been with the organization since joining the NFL coaching ranks in 2011.

Rob Davis had been with Mike McCarthy from his days in Green Bay and joined the Cowboys as assistant head coach in 2020. He played 12 years in the NFL as a deep snapper.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones missed their early-week interviews on 105.3 The Fan, which tipped fans off to some big moves coming either with the staff or roster. As it turns out, Dallas will be bringing in several new faces for the 2023 staff.

Micah Parsons says heartfelt goodbye to George Edwards

Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons sent a message to George Edwards following the breaking news.

“All I can say is thank you!” Parsons tweeted on Wednesday night. “Not for taking a kid from Harrisburg but for raising me like I was one of your own! I wouldn’t have made so many leaps without you! You will be missed! #love.”

Edwards coached Parsons for his lone two seasons in Dallas. Parsons had had back-to-back breakout seasons with Edwards by his side, earning Pro Bowl honors twice, First-team All-Pro honors twice, and the winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.

In just two seasons he’s recorded 149 tackles, 26.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and six pass deselections and is a finalst for the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.