FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys might not know if Scott Linehan will be their offensive coordinator in 2019, but they have made a decision on their offensive line coach.
Marc Colombo, who was promoted to the position after seven games, signed a new deal to take the job on a full-time basis, according to multiple sources.
Colombo replaced Paul Alexander in the middle of the season. Several offensive linemen praised Colombo’s teaching and passion in helping turn the season around. He coached a unit that did not have Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick all season because of Guillain-Barre syndrome and had to work without Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith and Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin because of injuries at different points in the second half of the season.
Colombo, 40, played for the Cowboys from 2005 to 2010. After a year in the scouting department, he joined the coaching staff in 2015 and was named the assistant offensive line coach in 2016. He was under consideration for the full-time job last season, but head coach Jason Garrett opted for Alexander’s experience.
On Monday, Garrett said Colombo did an “excellent” job taking over in the middle of the season.
The Cowboys could have faced competition for Colombo. His former Boston College teammate, Brian Flores, is expected to be named head coach of the Miami Dolphins after the New England Patriots’ season ends. Flores is the Pats' linebackers coach.
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones praised the work of the coaching staff in 2018 but stopped short of saying Linehan would return.
“Why would I put some kind of statement out that says this is what we're going to do when we might have an opportunity here next week? This is the time when these things are thought about,” Jones said. “This is the time when they are chewed on. This is when you may see an opportunity next week that you didn't know existed this week in the area of personnel or in the area of coaching. And I'm not trying to be cute here. I'm just saying that one of the advantages that we have is that we can operate with that kind of flexibility."