Cowboys BREAKING: Greg Ellis Hired to Mike Zimmer Coaching Staff

Dallas Cowboys BREAKING: Greg Ellis Hired to Mike Zimmer Coaching Staff

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are spending the day moving to fill the defensive staff under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

And just as “Zim” is coming home on the backstretch of his lengthy career, Greg Ellis is doing the same … as the former Dallas first-round pick is launching his NFL coaching career with a move into The Star.

Ellis, the Cowboys’ top pick in the 1998 NFL Draft - yes, yes, “the Randy Moss Year” - had 77 sacks in 11 seasons with the Cowboys and made a Pro Bowl.

Ellis, 48, had been coaching collegiately at Texas College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University recently. 

And of course he was a Zimmer protege as a player with the Cowboys, as ESPN notes in its report on the hire.

Additionally on Friday, the Cowboys are hiring an accomplished new defensive run-game coordinator in Pau Guenther, 52, long a trusted Zimmer aide with experience in the NFL as a coordinator.

Also, the Cowboys are hiring former Washington Commanders defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina as one of their new assistants at The Star.

Guenther is considered a “get” here - an experienced hand with a Zimmer connection - which means a high level of trust.

Guenther worked with Zimmer in Cincinnati and in Minnesota.

Zgognina, 53, was a seventh-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers who found a way to play a notable 17 seasons in the NFL - and won a Super Bowl in 1999 with the Rams before going into coaching a decade ago.

This group will work under new Dallas coordinator Zimmer as he replaces Dan Quinn (now the head coach in Washington. Joining Quinn there are Joe Whitt Jr. and Sharrif Floyd, creating Dallas openings.

Should Cowboys Hire Niners 'Scapegoat' Wilks?

Also gone is Aden Durde, who became the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator.