Source: Cowboys Finish Ron Rivera Interview, Meeting with Mike Zimmer in D-Coordinator Search

The search for Dan Quinn's replacement begins as familiar names appear as candidates for the Dallas Cowboys' vacant defensive coordinator job.

FRISCO - After the departure of former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to take the head coaching job in Washington, interviews began at The Star for his replacement on Monday and Tuesday, sources tell CowboysSI.com.

Familiar names are seen on the list of possible candidates, including former Cowboys staffer Mike Zimmer, ex-Washington head coach Ron Rivera and current Dallas defensive line coach Aden Durde.

A source tells us that as of Tuesday, the session with Rivera is complete and the meeting with Zimmer is ongoing.

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The man who Quinn replaced in Washington - Rivera - is a viable name on the list of interviewees. ... though rumors suggest the Joneses entered this process favoring Zimmer.

Nothing against him, but ... Dallas would be wise to be as open-minded as possible here.

Not many other names have surfaced as possibilities, although there are some intriguing ones available. Former Titans coach Mike Vrabel and ex-Patriots coach Bill Belichick are all seeking work, but haven't been hard linked to the Cowboys.

The most familiar and connected name is former Vikings head coach Zimmer, who also served on the Cowboys staff from 1994 through 2006 - including a seven-year stint as defensive coordinator from 2000 through 2006.

Rivera is fresh off his firing from the Commanders and previously was head coach in Carolina, leading the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance. Before entering the head coaching ranks, Rivera served as defensive coordinator in San Diego and Chicago

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A less familiar name, Durde, has apparently already interviewed and is the only known internal candidate, though staffer Al Harris is also well-regarded. Durde worked in Atlanta under Quinn as a defensive quality coach for two seasons and outside linebackers coach for one before arriving in Dallas in 2021 as defensive line coach.

In May of this year, Durde attended the NFL's Coach Accelerator Program with former Cowboys staffer Joe Whitt Jr., who left for Washington with Quinn. ... and Durde has gotten coordinator interest from other teams.