Cowboys Hire Vikings Ex Sharrif Floyd as Coach Dan Quinn Defensive Assistant

Injuries cut Sharrif Floyd's playing career short, but his NFL opportunity begins anew with the Dallas Cowboys as a coach.

Sharrif Floyd, the 23rd overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, is joining the Dallas Cowboys' full-time coaching staff, coming aboard as an assistant defensive line/defensive quality control coach. 

The addition was first reported by Todd Archer and Field Yates of ESPN.

Floyd, 31, previously worked with the Cowboys through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship over the summer. He later spent time on the staff at his alma mater, the University of Florida (where he also earned his undergraduate degree), and tallied further coaching experience at the high school ranks. His time in Gainesville afforded him the chance to work with current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who held the same position with the Gators.

Under Quinn's watch, Floyd earned first-team All-American and All-SEC honors before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

Though injuries cut his playing career short, Floyd had a respectable, brief tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, amassing 95 tackles (13 for a loss), 9.5 sacks, and 22 further quarterback hits before nerve damage in his knee following a meniscus surgery forced him to call it quits early. 

Dallas had a chance to select Floyd with the 18th overall in 2013 - and considered doing so - but instead engaged in a trade with San Francisco (choosing Travis Frederick at 31st overall). But now a decade later? Floyd is a Cowboy.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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