Cowboys deepen defensive coordinator search with new interviews. A blue-chip candidate emerges, but the competition remains fierce for the pivotal role.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys came away from the weekend job interview with Jim Leonhard impressed enough for NFL sources to hint to me that he might be the “favorite’’ to replace fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
But that doesn’t mean coach Brian Schottenheiemer’s promised “wide net’’ is done being cast.The next coordinator to take over what was in 2025 the NFL’s worst defense will be a Schottenheimer pick, not an owner Jerry Jones pick. … that’s one key change from what often happens with the staff here inside The Star.
Another? Often driven by Jones, Dallas tends to hire defensive coordinators with head coaching experience. And that could still happen here, as I’m told the Cowboys will follow up last week’s interviews with Leonhard (Broncos), Ephraim Banda (Browns) and Daronte Jones (Vikings) with another series of sessions with other candidates.
Can that mean visits with blue-chippers like Brian Flores (Vikings), Jim Schwartz (Browns), Raheem Morris (just fired as the Falcons head coach) and Jonathan Gannon (just fired as the Cardinals head coach)?
Indeed.
The issues there include that foursome’s desire to get a head coaching job elsewhere - and to not settle for being a coordinator.
But Gannon, the former Eagles coordinator, is now slated for a visit. So is Zach Orr, a DeSoto and UNT product who most recently was the Ravens coordinator. And staffer Aaron Whitecotton has interviewed, bringing to six the number of visits on the docket.
Above, you can see I’ve created a 20-man list of candidates for this job; there are some “fresh faces’’ there, with Leonhard - who spent Saturday visiting with Cowboys brass — now emerging as a very viable possibility.Schottenheimer's and Leonhard's relationship dates back to when they were both with the Jets; Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator (2008-2011) and Leonhard played safety (2008-2011).
Leonhard served as a defensive coordinator at the college level at Wisconsin (2017-2022) and was the interim head coach there in 2022. He's the assistant head coach for the AFC playoffs’ No. 1-seeded Broncos … and pulling the trigger on him might take some time.
Why? His boss is defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, and if he gets a head coaching job, Leonhard could remain in Denver as that team’s new defensive coordinator.
Said Schottenheimer of Leonhard: “Jim is a heck of a football coach. You talk about just a great football player, man. We had some great years together in New York," Schottenheimer said. ... "I’ve obviously got a ton of respect for. So Jim's an excellent coach."
Schottenheimer has talked of hiring a top aide who specializes in teaching and communication; Leonhard has over the years stressed the same things. The fit seems so solid that he might very well be Dallas’ eventual hire, when all is said and done.
But with more Cowboys interviews coming? All is not yet said and done.