While applicable to any avenue of life, the idea of Father Time being undefeated is one that is brought up season after season in the world of the National Football League. On Wednesday the time arrived, per source, for Dallas Cowboys Tight Ends Coach Mike Pope to retire.
Source: Cowboys TEs coach Mike Pope retiring; will be replaced by Steve Loney https://t.co/cYi20j17g2
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 1, 2017
Mike Pope has been in his position with America’s Team since the early days of 2014 (January 22nd to be specific). Prior to coaching up future Hall of Famer Jason Witten and the other tight ends on the team, Coach Pope spent 14 seasons in the same role with the New York Giants.
This three year stretch of time has been a great – albeit dramatic – one for the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Pope has been a part of two NFC East-winning squads that made it all the way to the Divisional Round, including clinching the NFC’s #1 seed in 2016.
Perhaps the thing Cowboys Nation will remember most about Mike Pope is his tendency to do some crazy drills with his tight ends. These were never anything close to predictable, but they were always extremely entertaining and somehow integral to success.
Cowboys TE coach Mike Pope sure has some interesting drills. pic.twitter.com/vGTLwQVfHy
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 1, 2015
While Mike Pope is off to retirement, the Dallas Cowboys still have to function as an organization in the NFL. The Cowboys have named Steve Loney as Coach Pope’s replacement in charge of the team’s tight ends. Loney joined the staff in 2015 as their assistant offensive line coach and moved into a senior offensive assistant role in 2016… so he knows a thing or two about the powerful offense Dak Prescott commands.
We here at Inside The Star would like to extend our most heartfelt congratulations to Mike Pope on an incredible career, and we hope that he enjoys retirement. The NFL truly never stops as pieces are moving every day in multiple directions, you’ve got to hold on for the ride.
Mike Pope, perhaps the all-time best tight-ends coach in the NFL, surely deserves a wonderful retirement after all the years, imagination, instruction and quality he has given to his many great players. The Giants loss, and it was a huge one, was the Cowboys tremendous gain! Yes, Jason Witten has been a future Hall of Fame TE for a long time, but those two together only made it all better! It’s been a pleasure to follow the career of Coach Pope and the incredible TE’s who excelled because of him. Congratulations on an incredible career and wishes for a very happy and a very long retirement! You will be missed on the sidelines!