Adam Schefter Backs Off Mike Zimmer-Cowboys Report, Gets Scooped By Ian Rapoport

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An interesting situation unfolded on ESPN prior to the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon. Star NFL reporter Adam Schefter reported that the Dallas Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator. Fellow ESPN analyst Rex Ryan immediately said that wasn't true, and he was still in the running for the job. 

OutKick reported on that bizarre sequence. From that story: 

During the network's pregame Super Bowl coverage, Schefter delivered a report that the Cowboys are expected to hire former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator. This was news to Ryan, though, and he had no qualms about saying so. 

"This week, the Dallas Cowboys went ahead and hired Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator," Schefter reported. "Obviously, they talked to a wide number of candidates, like our own Rex Ryan … They loved Rex, they were highly impressed with Rex." 

Rex Ryan ESPN Adam Schefter Dallas Cowboys

((Marco Garcia/USA TODAY Sports))

Host Sam Ponder made a joke about teams trying to steal Ryan away from ESPN and everyone on set, including Ryan, laughed about that. 

However, Ryan then got serious and said: "I can honestly say … I'm not so sure that Zimmer's got that job right now … I don't believe that's a fact right now." 

Well, Schefter backed off his report on Monday. 

Schefter made his regular appearance on the Pat McAfee show and backed off his initial report. He also made it clear that he was surprised when Ryan jumped in following his report and contradicted him. 

"You guys are not the only ones surprised by that, right," Schefter told McAfee. "I hear that, and I think, ‘What the heck?'"

McAfee asked Schefter if Ryan is still in consideration for the Cowboys. 

"Mike Zimmer’s deal is not done yet, so they have reached out to Rex … and reached out to him about 15 minutes before that segment, just to say, ‘Hey, any shot at this?’ So that’s where the confusion came. … the deal’s not done yet," Schefter replied. 

Ed Werder, another ESPN reporter who frequently reports on the Cowboys, then confirmed that Ryan is indeed still in play for the team's open defensive coordinator position. 

Except, just a few hours later, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport jumped on X to report that the deal between Zimmer and the Cowboys is now done and he becomes the team's new defensive coordinator. 

So Schefter's original report was correct. That begs the question: did the Cowboys string Ryan along to gain leverage in negotiations with Zimmer? 

Sure seems that way. But, this story seems like it's far from over, even though it appears to be over. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.