Cowboys Announce The Hiring Of Scott Linehan & Promote Rod Marinelli To DC

Update:

The Dallas Cowboys officially announced the hiring of Scott Linehan as their “passing game coordinator.”

The Cowboys also announced that DC Monte Kiffin has been named “assistant head coach/defense” with Rod Marinelli taking over as their new defensive coordinator.

Bill Callahan will remain the team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

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Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys are in fact hiring former Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as their new play-caller.

Dallas is expected to retain OC Bill Callahan who is currently under contract with the team. Reports from earlier today mentioned Callahan was not happy with the Cowboys decision to hire a play-caller, so it will be interesting to see if this causes any further with the Cowboys’ coaching staff.

Callahan was considered a candidate for the Browns offensive coordinator position, but Dallas elected to prevent him from making a lateral move to Cleveland.

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Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys are interviewing Scott Linehan for a position on their offensive coaching staff.

• Rapoport adds that the Cowboys have no intention of allowing OC Bill Callahan out of his contract. (Update: 3:48 pm)
• Albert Breer reportedly earlier that Linehan was at Valley Ranch meeting with the Cowboys today.

All indications are that Linehan will join the Cowboys coaching staff in some capacity. We’ll have more as the news is available.

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ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the expectation is that Cowboys OC Bill Callahan will finish out the final year of his contract, even if Scott Linehan ends up being hired as their play-caller.

Calvin Watkins reported earlier in the day that Callahan “would be upset” if the Cowboys elected to hire Linehan.

Callahan’s name has come up as a potential option for the Browns offensive coordinator position, but the fact that he’s under contract with Dallas could prevent him from making a lateral move, despite the fact that his responsibilities would likely decrease next season.

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According to ESPN, the Dallas Cowboys are considering hiring former Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as their new play-caller.

• Ed Werder adds that this move could be a compromise between owner Jerry Jones and HC Jason Garrett.

Linehan is also a candidate for the Ravens offensive coordinator position, but it appears as though Baltimore could head in a different direction and hire someone else.

Linehan, 50, was recently cut loose after the Lions elected to fire Jim Schwartz as their head coach and replace him with Jim Caldwell. He spent the past five years as the Lions offensive coordinator and has previous head coaching experience with the Rams.

There has been a lot of talk about who’s going to be in charge of calling plays, but it was Bill Callahan’s job last year. Maybe the team is prepared to make a change.