Sources: Marinelli joins Cowboys as DL coach

Published Jan. 18, 2013 5:44 p.m. ET

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IRVING, Texas — Earlier this week, Cowboys sources told me that hiring Rod Marinelli as an assistant under Monte Kiffin would constitute a defensive coaching "dream team."

The dream is complete as of Friday afternoon. A host of sources tell me that the accomplished Marinelli will join Dallas as its defensive line coach.

Marinelli opted to leave his defensive coordinator job in Chicago out of loyalty to fired coach Lovie Smith. The former Vietnam War veteran was a head coach in Detroit and before that worked under Kiffin for a decade with the Buccaneers, running the 4-3 defense and the Tampa 2, concepts that are central to the Cowboys' plans.

The Cowboys have spoken to USC linebackers coach Scottie Hazelton about a job, but could keep Matt Eberflus as linebackers coach. Jerome Henderson will remain as the secondary coach.

Young assistant Ben Bloom could also stay on staff, as could former Cowboys standout Leon Lett. More "dreaming" would come true if Raheem Morris could be pried away from Washington. He's the secondary coach there and has interviewed as a defensive coordinator for two other NFL teams.

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