The great history of Cowboys assistant coaches

Bobhaze

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In the storied 60 year history of “America’s Team”, we have had a long list of great players and head coaches. In fact, our first two head coaches, Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, are Hall of Famers that coached the first 34 years of team history.

What has been talked about less is the number of outstanding assistant coaches who were a part of this team’s great history and achievements. Some went on to be excellent HCs in their own right. Many were key cogs in winning 5 Super Bowls.

Here are some of the great assistants in Cowboys history:
  • Ernie Stautner- the former Pittsburgh steeler HOF player served as the Cowboys DL coach for 22 years under Landry. He coached and developed Cowboys greats like Bob Lily, Randy White, TooTall Jones, Harvey Martin, and Jethro Pugh.
  • Dan Reeves- while a Cowboys RB, Reeves was tapped by Landry to be a player-coach after his 4th season as a player. Reeves went on to coach RBs in Dallas for 12 years. He became a head coach in Denver and later NYG and Atlanta, where his teams appeared in 4 Super Bowls. He won NFL “Coach if the Year” twice.
  • Mike Ditka- “Iron Mike” became a Cowboys player briefly in 1971-72 at the end of his great HOF career as a player. Landry then hired Ditka as Special Teams coach, where Ditka served effectively for 9 years before being hired as Chicago’s HC in 1982. His bears won a SB in 85 with perhaps the greatest defense in NFL history.
  • Norv Turner- served under Jimmy Johnson as QB coach and offensive coordinator, Turner was most responsible for the development of HOFer Troy Aikman. Turner became an NFL HC in San Diego and Washington with only marginal success. Aikman chose Turner to introduce him for his HOF speech.
  • Dave Wannstedt- Jimmy Johnson’s defensive coordinator for 4 years, he developed the new “Doomsday Defense” of the 90s that dominated the middle 90s. Wannstedt was never as successful as an NFL head coach in Chicago and Miami.
  • Sean Payton- served only 3 years in Dallas under Bill Parcells as QBs coach and was most responsible for acquiring and developing Tony Romo. Has gone on to Coach the saints and has enjoyed great success there winning a SB in 2009.
These assistant coaches were critical in the success of the Cowboys over the years. There have certainly been many other successful Cowboys assistants. Who else would you mention?
 

DoctorChicken

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In Peyton's first year as HC for the Saints, they offered a 3rd round pick for Romo. Jerry wanted a 2nd. I wonder what his career would have been like if he wasn't hamstrung by Garrett for so long and continued to be coached by Peyton. Would probably have himself a ring in 2009.
 

ClappingCarrot

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Now, lets go through the Garret era and his fruitless coaching tree. The man did not not launch the career of a single HC in 10 years of stalking the sideline. :lmao::facepalm:
One of the biggest things I hold against JG was his extreme lack of a coaching network. Most of his assistants were either career underachievers, guys he met on Saban's staff in Miami, or guys that had no business being in the coaching profession.

The only coach we ever lost under JG that I wasn't happy about was Rich Bisaccia and MAYBE Bill Callahan.
 

OmerV

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In the storied 60 year history of “America’s Team”, we have had a long list of great players and head coaches. In fact, our first two head coaches, Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, are Hall of Famers that coached the first 34 years of team history.

What has been talked about less is the number of outstanding assistant coaches who were a part of this team’s great history and achievements. Some went on to be excellent HCs in their own right. Many were key cogs in winning 5 Super Bowls.

Here are some of the great assistants in Cowboys history:
  • Ernie Stautner- the former Pittsburgh steeler HOF player served as the Cowboys DL coach for 22 years under Landry. He coached and developed Cowboys greats like Bob Lily, Randy White, TooTall Jones, Harvey Martin, and Jethro Pugh.
  • Dan Reeves- while a Cowboys RB, Reeves was tapped by Landry to be a player-coach after his 4th season as a player. Reeves went on to coach RBs in Dallas for 12 years. He became a head coach in Denver and later NYG and Atlanta, where his teams appeared in 4 Super Bowls. He won NFL “Coach if the Year” twice.
  • Mike Ditka- “Iron Mike” became a Cowboys player briefly in 1971-72 at the end of his great HOF career as a player. Landry then hired Ditka as Special Teams coach, where Ditka served effectively for 9 years before being hired as Chicago’s HC in 1982. His bears won a SB in 85 with perhaps the greatest defense in NFL history.
  • Norv Turner- served under Jimmy Johnson as QB coach and offensive coordinator, Turner was most responsible for the development of HOFer Troy Aikman. Turner became an NFL HC in San Diego and Washington with only marginal success. Aikman chose Turner to introduce him for his HOF speech.
  • Dave Wannstedt- Jimmy Johnson’s defensive coordinator for 4 years, he developed the new “Doomsday Defense” of the 90s that dominated the middle 90s. Wannstedt was never as successful as an NFL head coach in Chicago and Miami.
  • Sean Payton- served only 3 years in Dallas under Bill Parcells as QBs coach and was most responsible for acquiring and developing Tony Romo. Has gone on to Coach the saints and has enjoyed great success there winning a SB in 2009.
These assistant coaches were critical in the success of the Cowboys over the years. There have certainly been many other successful Cowboys assistants. Who else would you mention?
Obviously not as accomplished as most on this list, but Mike Zimmer would be a consideration as well.
 

Western

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Some additional assistant coaches who were quality assistants and developed players, and in some cases, later became head coaches.
Landry era -- Dick Nolan, Gene Stallings, Raymond Berry, & John Mackovic.
Jimmy era -- Tony Wise, Hubbard Alexander, Butch Davis, & Joe Brodsky.
 
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Hagman

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Ermal Allan. While from what I gathered he was so disliked by the players that he wasn't an effective coach (defensive backfield) he was put in charge of researching opponents. I remember some of his segments from the old Tom Landry TV show. I think that his smarts and knowledge of the game were a crucial part of making America's Team what it was.
 

Hagman

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Some additional assistant coaches who were quality assistants and developed players, and in some cases, later became head coaches.
Landry era -- Dick Nolan, Gene Stallings, Raymond Berry, & John Mackovic.
Jimmy era -- Tony Wise, Hubbard Alexander, Butch Davis, & Joe Brodsky.

I think it's way cool that Dick Nolan's son, Mike, is our new defensive coordinator.
 

Hagman

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While we're at it.....I guess we have to mention Jim Myers. He coached some pretty good offensive lines and became offensive coordinator. I always guessed that Landry was really in charge of the offense, but then again he did think enough of Myers to name him a co/associate Head Coach.
 

Bobhaze

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In Peyton's first year as HC for the Saints, they offered a 3rd round pick for Romo. Jerry wanted a 2nd. I wonder what his career would have been like if he wasn't hamstrung by Garrett for so long and continued to be coached by Peyton. Would probably have himself a ring in 2009.
That’s a very interesting question. And if Jerry was willing to part with the guy he once bragged “he knew was special right away”, it only cements his incredibly bad personnel instincts. Especially at QB. You know...like reaching way early to get Quincy Carter, wanting to draft Johnny Manziel, Paxton Lynch or Connor Cook. Jerry knows how to make money. A judge of NFL talent he is not.
 

jazzcat22

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In Peyton's first year as HC for the Saints, they offered a 3rd round pick for Romo. Jerry wanted a 2nd. I wonder what his career would have been like if he wasn't hamstrung by Garrett for so long and continued to be coached by Peyton. Would probably have himself a ring in 2009.

Hmmm. maybe not so fast. Tony was good, but was he Drew Brees good? ..... Runs for cover ....
 

Plankton

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In the storied 60 year history of “America’s Team”, we have had a long list of great players and head coaches. In fact, our first two head coaches, Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, are Hall of Famers that coached the first 34 years of team history.

What has been talked about less is the number of outstanding assistant coaches who were a part of this team’s great history and achievements. Some went on to be excellent HCs in their own right. Many were key cogs in winning 5 Super Bowls.

Here are some of the great assistants in Cowboys history:
  • Ernie Stautner- the former Pittsburgh steeler HOF player served as the Cowboys DL coach for 22 years under Landry. He coached and developed Cowboys greats like Bob Lily, Randy White, TooTall Jones, Harvey Martin, and Jethro Pugh.
  • Dan Reeves- while a Cowboys RB, Reeves was tapped by Landry to be a player-coach after his 4th season as a player. Reeves went on to coach RBs in Dallas for 12 years. He became a head coach in Denver and later NYG and Atlanta, where his teams appeared in 4 Super Bowls. He won NFL “Coach if the Year” twice.
  • Mike Ditka- “Iron Mike” became a Cowboys player briefly in 1971-72 at the end of his great HOF career as a player. Landry then hired Ditka as Special Teams coach, where Ditka served effectively for 9 years before being hired as Chicago’s HC in 1982. His bears won a SB in 85 with perhaps the greatest defense in NFL history.
  • Norv Turner- served under Jimmy Johnson as QB coach and offensive coordinator, Turner was most responsible for the development of HOFer Troy Aikman. Turner became an NFL HC in San Diego and Washington with only marginal success. Aikman chose Turner to introduce him for his HOF speech.
  • Dave Wannstedt- Jimmy Johnson’s defensive coordinator for 4 years, he developed the new “Doomsday Defense” of the 90s that dominated the middle 90s. Wannstedt was never as successful as an NFL head coach in Chicago and Miami.
  • Sean Payton- served only 3 years in Dallas under Bill Parcells as QBs coach and was most responsible for acquiring and developing Tony Romo. Has gone on to Coach the saints and has enjoyed great success there winning a SB in 2009.
These assistant coaches were critical in the success of the Cowboys over the years. There have certainly been many other successful Cowboys assistants. Who else would you mention?

Dick Nolan
Gene Stallings
Butch Davis
 

Plankton

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While we're at it.....I guess we have to mention Jim Myers. He coached some pretty good offensive lines and became offensive coordinator. I always guessed that Landry was really in charge of the offense, but then again he did think enough of Myers to name him a co/associate Head Coach.

Myers was also the coach who followed Bear Bryant at Texas A&M. Who did he beat out for the job? Tom Landry. Who had a huge hand in the hire? Bum Bright.
 

Hagman

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Myers was also the coach who followed Bear Bryant at Texas A&M. Who did he beat out for the job? Tom Landry. Who had a huge hand in the hire? Bum Bright.

That's really interesting....although any mention of Bum Bright makes my stomach churn.
 

jazzcat22

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In the storied 60 year history of “America’s Team”, we have had a long list of great players and head coaches. In fact, our first two head coaches, Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, are Hall of Famers that coached the first 34 years of team history.

What has been talked about less is the number of outstanding assistant coaches who were a part of this team’s great history and achievements. Some went on to be excellent HCs in their own right. Many were key cogs in winning 5 Super Bowls.

Here are some of the great assistants in Cowboys history:
  • Ernie Stautner- the former Pittsburgh steeler HOF player served as the Cowboys DL coach for 22 years under Landry. He coached and developed Cowboys greats like Bob Lily, Randy White, TooTall Jones, Harvey Martin, and Jethro Pugh.
  • Dan Reeves- while a Cowboys RB, Reeves was tapped by Landry to be a player-coach after his 4th season as a player. Reeves went on to coach RBs in Dallas for 12 years. He became a head coach in Denver and later NYG and Atlanta, where his teams appeared in 4 Super Bowls. He won NFL “Coach if the Year” twice.
  • Mike Ditka- “Iron Mike” became a Cowboys player briefly in 1971-72 at the end of his great HOF career as a player. Landry then hired Ditka as Special Teams coach, where Ditka served effectively for 9 years before being hired as Chicago’s HC in 1982. His bears won a SB in 85 with perhaps the greatest defense in NFL history.
  • Norv Turner- served under Jimmy Johnson as QB coach and offensive coordinator, Turner was most responsible for the development of HOFer Troy Aikman. Turner became an NFL HC in San Diego and Washington with only marginal success. Aikman chose Turner to introduce him for his HOF speech.
  • Dave Wannstedt- Jimmy Johnson’s defensive coordinator for 4 years, he developed the new “Doomsday Defense” of the 90s that dominated the middle 90s. Wannstedt was never as successful as an NFL head coach in Chicago and Miami.
  • Sean Payton- served only 3 years in Dallas under Bill Parcells as QBs coach and was most responsible for acquiring and developing Tony Romo. Has gone on to Coach the saints and has enjoyed great success there winning a SB in 2009.
These assistant coaches were critical in the success of the Cowboys over the years. There have certainly been many other successful Cowboys assistants. Who else would you mention?

Thanks Bob for posting some good thought provoking threads that offer something different. Different than the same old anti Dak threads or doom and gloom threads we get shoved up the backside 50 times a day. Some threads start out with good intentions, but soon go down hill.

But at least you offer something that can, or actually can be discussed.
There has been a few coaches throughout history that produce a good coaching tree. Landry was not just a great coach, but he also seemed to instill life lessons that others took along with them, or they had them to succeed, and Landry brought it out even more.
 

Diehardblues

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Now, lets go through the Garret era and his fruitless coaching tree. The man did not not launch the career of a single HC in 10 years of stalking the sideline. :lmao::facepalm:
I’d argue that’s more of a credit to Jerry this entire era who’s taken responsibility for all of the Coaching hires.

The only exception with any asst coaches emerging this era since Jimmy left as successful HC’s is under Parcells.
 

Diehardblues

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One great asst coach Bob missed under Landry was Gene Stallings who went on to win a National Championship at Alabama.

Butch Davis , under Jimmy would be another Id mention as he had some success at the U before becoming HC at the Browns.
 
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